Three recruiting treatment trials · September 20, 2026
Purdue adds experimental tumor ablation to standard cancer treatment in three trials
Purdue University Veterinary Hospital in West Lafayette, Indiana, is recruiting dogs for three treatment studies: focused ultrasound plus CHOP for lymphoma, H-FIRE before liver-tumor surgery, and focused ultrasound before amputation and carboplatin for osteosarcoma. In each protocol, the experimental procedure is added to an established treatment plan rather than offered as an unsupported substitute.
The experimental ablation itself has not been shown to improve remission, disease control or survival. The practical benefit for enrolled dogs is that standard treatment remains in place and part of the care is study-funded.
Lymphoma: HIFU followed by CHOP
Who may qualify: Dogs at least 1 year old and over 8 kg (18 lb) with newly diagnosed, untreated intermediate- or large-cell multicentric B- or T-cell lymphoma. Small-cell, extranodal and stage V lymphoma are excluded. Dogs must be able to undergo sedation or anesthesia and must not have had recent chemotherapy, anticancer treatment or corticosteroids.
How it differs from standard treatment: Standard UW-25 CHOP chemotherapy still begins after the study procedure and continues for 25 weeks. Before CHOP, Purdue partially treats one enlarged lymph node with HIFU and samples treated and untreated nodes to look for an immune response. The experimental procedure is an addition to CHOP, not a replacement for it, and there is no placebo.
Study support: HIFU, sedation or anesthesia, study biopsies and laboratory work are covered. The study provides a $2,000 CHOP credit and up to $2,000 more for HIFU-related side effects or CHOP. Initial diagnostics and unrelated care remain owner-paid.
Liver cancer: H-FIRE before surgery
Who may qualify: Dogs with one or more liver tumors that Purdue considers surgically removable. The dog must be able to undergo anesthesia, H-FIRE and the planned surgery. Coagulation disorders, severe systemic illness or declining tumor removal after H-FIRE exclude participation.
How it differs from standard treatment: Surgery remains the definitive treatment. The trial adds one image-guided H-FIRE procedure under general anesthesia, then repeats CT and removes the tumor about 5–7 days later. H-FIRE uses short electrical pulses to damage tumor cells and is experimental; it is not standard veterinary care.
Study support: H-FIRE, the post-treatment CT and study rechecks are covered, with a $2,000 credit toward surgery. Owners pay the remaining surgical cost and unrelated care.
Osteosarcoma: HIFU before amputation and carboplatin
Who may qualify: Dogs at least 1 year old and over 8 kg (18 lb) with newly diagnosed appendicular osteosarcoma, no detected metastases and a tumor position that provides a safe ultrasound path. Dogs must be candidates for anesthesia, limb amputation and carboplatin.
How it differs from standard treatment: The standard plan of amputation followed by carboplatin remains in place. Purdue adds functional imaging and partial HIFU ablation, then performs amputation about 5–7 days later. The study is examining safety and biological effects; direct benefit from HIFU is not guaranteed.
Study support: HIFU and functional imaging are covered, up to $2,600 is provided toward amputation, and chemotherapy recheck visits are covered. Owners pay initial staging, remaining surgery costs and carboplatin administration.
Owners and veterinarians can contact TumorAblation@purdue.edu. Purdue requires a veterinary referral for the lymphoma evaluation.
Check these and other current cancer treatment trials in Vet Trial Finder