University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
University / teaching hospital
9 current cancer treatment or research opportunities
About Penn Vet Cancer Research
Penn Vet links cancer care at Ryan Hospital with the Penn Vet Cancer Center and laboratories across the university. Nicola Mason's team is known for adapting CAR-T and other immune-cell treatments for dogs, helping connect veterinary trials with advances in human cancer medicine.
Cancer types currently listedGlioma, Histiocytic Sarcoma, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Osteosarcoma, Prostate Cancer, Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Where visits take placePenn Vet Ryan Veterinary Hospital, 3900 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Current options at University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Open an option to see who may qualify, locations, costs or coverage, contact details and the official source.
Palliative radiation + frunevetmab for feline bone-invasive oral SCC
University of Pennsylvania · USA
Active - Recruiting
What is being offered: Pilot palliative study for feline bone-invasive oral SCC.
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; No metastasis; Mandibular or maxillary bone lysis; chemotherapy washout: 21 days; radiation washout: 21 days; Immunotherapy and anti ngf washout 21d
Costs / coverage: 🟠 Partially funded. Owners pay initial staging to establish eligibility, including the initial head CT, bloodwork and diagnostic cytology/histopathology of the oral mass and lymph nodes when needed. After enrollment, the study covers all six radiation treatments including anesthesia and examinations, Solensia/placebo and meloxicam, monitoring bloodwork, chest radiographs and the final head CT.
Contact: Penn Vet VCIC — vcic@vet.upenn.edu; 215-573-0302
Location
Penn Vet Ryan Veterinary Hospital, 3900 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Proton FLASH radiation therapy for canine extremity soft tissue sarcoma
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine · USA
Current Penn Vet clinical trial
What is being offered: Three proton FLASH-RT treatments over 5–9 days for extremity STS where surgery is not feasible or has been declined. Prior surgery is acceptable.
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Extremity sts; Max tumor cm: 10; No metastasis; Planned radiation
May not qualify if: Pulmonary metastasis; Regional lymph node metastasis
Costs / coverage: 🟢 Fully funded after screening. Sponsor covers all study-related procedures including FLASH-RT treatments, examinations, chest radiographs, laboratory tests, sedation/anesthesia and CT; the screening visit is owner-paid.
Contact: Penn Vet VCIC — 215-573-0302; vcic@vet.upenn.edu
Location
Penn Vet Ryan Veterinary Hospital, 3900 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
PSMA-MMAE-Pc413 theranostic plus laser for canine prostatic cancer
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine · USA
Current Penn Vet clinical trial
What is being offered: Targeted investigational PSMA ligand carrying MMAE and a photosensitizer, combined with laser photodynamic therapy; intended for local and metastatic canine prostatic cancer.
Who may qualify: Active tumor required; Prostatic cancer; Prostatic diagnosis at screening
Costs / coverage: 🟢 Fully funded study procedures. The study covers specified diagnostics after enrollment, theranostic infusions, laser treatment, hospitalization and study rechecks including imaging and laboratory testing.
Contact: Penn Vet VCIC — 215-573-0302; vcic@vet.upenn.edu
Location
Penn Vet Ryan Veterinary Hospital, 3900 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
B7H3-targeted CAR-iNKT cell therapy for newly diagnosed canine osteosarcoma
Penn Vet Comparative Immunotherapy Program · USA
Actively recruiting — listed on Penn Vet's current Comparative Immunotherapy clinical-trials page
What is being offered: Investigational B7H3-targeted CAR-iNKT cell therapy for dogs with newly diagnosed osteosarcoma. This is a distinct protocol from Penn's CAR-iNKT study for dogs with metastatic osteosarcoma. Treatment is followed by amputation and standard-of-care chemotherapy; full eligibility requires Penn Vet prescreening.
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Newly diagnosed; No metastasis; Min weight kg: 23; Appendicular location; Planned amputation and chemo
Costs / coverage: 🟢 Fully funded — Including initial screening; no cost to owners. Screening, confirmatory biopsy/B7H3 testing, CAR-iNKT therapy, amputation/post-op care, standard chemotherapy and study monitoring are covered.
Contact: Mary Beth Boland, CVT — mboland@vet.upenn.edu — (215) 898-5098
Location
Penn Vet Ryan Veterinary Hospital, 3900 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
CAR-iNKT cell therapy for canine metastatic osteosarcoma
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine — Comparative Immunotherapy Program · USA
Active - Recruiting
What is being offered: Phase I B7-H3-targeted CAR-iNKT cell-therapy study for dogs with metastatic osteosarcoma. Penn Vet's official current clinical-trial page is the primary status source; full protocol eligibility requires Penn prescreening.
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Metastatic; Post amputation; Prior chemo; Appendicular location; Min weight kg: 18; chemotherapy washout: 56 days; Measurable lung metastases; B7h3 expression and prior carboplatin
Costs / coverage: Penn Vet states costs associated with the study treatment are covered; confirm current screening and non-study costs during prescreening.
Cellular immunotherapy for canine B-cell lymphoma or leukemia
Penn Vet Comparative Immunotherapy Program · USA
Active - Recruiting
What is being offered: Genetically engineered autologous CAR-T cell treatment for canine B-cell lymphoma or leukemia. Penn Vet's official Comparative Immunotherapy Program clinical-trials page currently lists this study and describes screening, pre-conditioning, treatment and monthly follow-up visits. Primary Penn source governs enrollment status; registry is retained as the secondary study reference.
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Min weight kg: 10; chemotherapy washout: 21 days; Bcell lineage and non gi disease
Costs / coverage: Fully funded including initial screening; confirm current coverage with Penn Vet when prescreening.
Pilot anti-STEAP1 CAR-T cell therapy for canine histiocytic sarcoma
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine — Atherton Laboratory / Ryan Hospital · USA
Open to limited enrollment — confirmed by investigator on 2026-09-29; study consent under revision
What is being offered: Autologous anti-STEAP1 CAR-T cells after bendamustine preconditioning
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Measurable
May not qualify if: Current chemo
Costs / coverage: The prior consent form says the study covers protocol-specified diagnostic tests, procedures and treatments. Treatment of complications directly caused by study treatment is covered up to $1,000; the owner pays costs above that limit and care before enrollment, for disease progression or for unrelated conditions. Coverage may change in the revised consent form; confirm with Penn before enrollment.
Contact: Matthew Atherton, BVSc, PhD, DECVIM — mattath@upenn.edu; Penn Vet Ryan Hospital
Location
Penn Vet Ryan Hospital, 3900 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Philadelphia, PA
FLASH proton radiation with or without gilvetmab for canine glioma
Penn Vet Ryan Veterinary Hospital · USA
Recruiting
What is being offered: Dogs need histopathologic confirmation of glioma or diagnostic MRI showing a supratentorial lesion consistent with glioma, must be suitable for general anesthesia, and must have a tumor compatible with the FLASH equipment. Systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy requires a three-week washout; prior gilvetmab is not allowed. All dogs receive three FLASH proton treatments and are randomized to receive or not receive three gilvetmab infusions, with 12 follow-up visits over 11 months.
Who may qualify: Active tumor required; Planned radiation
May not qualify if: Prior gilvetmab; Anesthesia contraindicated
Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. Owners pay screening diagnostics; after enrollment the sponsor covers three FLASH-RT treatments, examinations, laboratory tests, sedation/anesthesia, CSF taps, gilvetmab infusions and protocol CT/MRI imaging.
Contact: Penn Vet VCIC — 215-573-0302; vcic@vet.upenn.edu
Location
Penn Vet Ryan Veterinary Hospital, 3900 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Philadelphia, PA
Cathepsin-activated near-infrared imaging during surgery for canine oral squamous cell carcinoma
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine · USA
Recruiting — posted October 21, 2026
What is being offered: Intravenous cathepsin-activated near-infrared imaging agent and intraoperative imaging during surgical excision
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Planned surgery; Previously untreated
May not qualify if: Prior surgery; Prior radiation; Prior chemo
Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. The study pays $3,000 toward the cost of surgery; Penn Vet does not state that the remaining surgical, screening, staging or follow-up costs are covered.
Contact: Penn Vet VCIC — 215-573-0302; vcic@vet.upenn.edu
Location
Penn Vet Ryan Veterinary Hospital, 3900 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
A listing here does not mean every pet will qualify. Enrollment can change, and the study team makes the final decision after reviewing your pet’s diagnosis, records and previous treatment.
Have the pathology report, recent imaging and treatment history ready. Ask whether a referral is required, which visits must happen in person and what the study pays for before making travel plans.
