Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that the vaccine can treat cancers which have up until now been untreatable with traditional therapies. What’s more, the ImmuneFx vaccine, a patented protein- based therapy for fighting cancer, is with- out toxic side effects. In clinical veteri- nary trials, the safety and effectiveness of ImmuneFx in treating lymphoma in dogs was confirmed. To put it simply, Morphogenesis
grows the cancer cells that fight off the cancer already growing within the affect- ed dog’s body. But these aren’t just any cancer
cells.The cells are taken from the dog affected with cancer through a biop- sy conducted by the family veterinarian. The cells are then transported to the Morphogenesis lab, where in a few weeks, new cells will have
grown.There are 10 million cells per dose needed. Those cells make up the vaccine that will be injected back into the dog, again by the family veterinarian. The treatment involves eight injections, starting at every two weeks and working up to once a month until treatment is completed. Ostensibly what occurs is the vaccine causes the cancer cells to be identified by the body’s own immune system, alerting it to attack and get rid of the cancer cells.
IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR JAXSON, A
10-YEAR-OLD SHELTIE, stopped eating, showed signs of lethargy and had blood in his urine. He had already had a bout of bladder stones a year or so ago, said his family veterinarian,Dr. James Barrie with Sunshine Animal Hospital in Tampa. But x-rays
revealed no stones. A biopsy
revealed cancer cells in the urine. Jaxson was diagnosed with transitional cell carci- noma, a very invasive form of cancer with malignant tumors of the lower uri- nary tract. It is the most common malig- nancy, usually involving the bladder and/or the
urethra.Affected dogs tend be older and smaller. Dr. Barrie’s concern was that the cancer could spread to Jaxson’s lymph
nodes.The first method of treatment made Jaxson sick. “He just could not tolerate the drug, so we had to look for other options.” said Dr. Barrie. Unfortunately, chemotherapy would not be one of those options. “I met Jaxson when he was just three
weeks old,” said his human, Sandy Soto. “I brought him home at eight weeks old, just in time for Valentine’s Day,and we’ve been together ever since. When Jaxson couldn’t tolerate the drug we hoped would help him, I was just praying that some alternative appear.”
treatment would In a classic case of connections, and
friends helping friends by simply inquir- ing how one is doing,an alternative treat- ment was available. “My friends and co-workers at HSN
knew that my mother had been ill, and that I was caring for her. One day, when I was not at work, someone asked some- one else how mom was doing. Someone else mentioned that Jaxson had cancer. Someone in that room knew someone else who worked with the folks at Morphogenesis, and had them contact me,” said Sandy. Jaxson has been a patient of Dr.
Barrie’s since he was around two years old. "I feel very fortunate to have known him and his owner, Sandy. So, when she asked me about the treatment available through Morphogenesis,I was complete- ly open to it,” said Dr. Barrie. Another biopsy was done to remove
Dr. Elizabeth Brown of West Coast Veterinary Center and Braden River Equine, Sarasota with Strawberry Joe. Photograph by Anna Cooke.
66 THE NEW BARKER
some cancerous cells from Jaxson’s blad- der. Generally it takes a week to two weeks to grow the cells from the biopsied
Dr. James Barrie of Sunshine Animal Hospital, Tampa,Sandy Soto and her dog, Jaxson. Photograph by Anna Cooke
cells, but in Jaxson’s case it took three
weeks.The vile was delivered to Sunshine Animal Hospital and on June 27, Jaxson received his first injection.When we met Jaxson in October, he looked wonderful. Beautiful, shiny coat, clear eyes and alert and definitely having a good time with all of the attention. He has two more treatments to go, and his prognosis looks good. “Jaxson has done really well with these
treatments.And I’m convinced that we would like to pursue this type of treatment option with other patients who have cancer,” Dr. Barrie told us. BENNIE IS A 20-YEAR-OLD
QUARTER HORSE WITH SOME ARABIAN MIX. The life expectancy of a horse is around 25 to 30 years. Bennie’s owner, Doug Langston told us, “Arabian horses are susceptible to skin cancer.When we adopted Bennie at eight years of age, he already had tumors. Then, about four years ago, the tumors became more severe and began multiplying.” Doug went on to explain that the type of melanoma that Bennie has starts out as external, and then turns inward, attaching itself to vital organs. “Which is ultimately what will kill Bennie,” said Doug.
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