Using immunotherapy to treat bladder cancer in dogs

Intravesical Immunotherapy of Spontaneous Canine Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma

NIH-funded research North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-10920439

This study is testing a new treatment for dogs with invasive bladder cancer that involves giving a special medicine directly into their bladder, and it's designed to see how safe and effective it is for helping our furry friends feel better.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNorth Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Raleigh, United States)
Project IDNIH-10920439 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the use of intravesical immunotherapy with a specific formulation of interleukin-12 in dogs diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer. The approach involves administering the treatment directly into the bladder, which has shown promise in preclinical studies by eliminating tumors and potentially inducing responses in untreated areas. The study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this therapy in pet dogs, leveraging the similarities between canine and human bladder cancers to enhance clinical translation.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pet dogs diagnosed with spontaneous invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

Not a fit: Dogs with other types of cancers or those not diagnosed with bladder cancer may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new, less invasive treatment option for bladder cancer in dogs, improving their quality of life and survival rates.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown success with similar immunotherapy approaches in animal models, suggesting potential for effective translation to canine patients.

Where this research is happening

Raleigh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Bladder Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.