Oral Artemisinin in Dogs with Spontaneous Tumors

Study title

Pharmacokinetics and phase I clinical trial of high-dose intermittent oral artemisinin in dogs with spontaneous tumors.

Purpose of study

We are studying the drug artemisinin, a drug used originally for the treatment of malaria in South Asia, but which was also found to kill cancer cells due to free radical generation through a reaction mediated by iron.  Artemisinin has been shown to have effects in several types of human cancer cells in vitro. We have previously shown that low concentrations of artemisinin can induce cell death in several types of canine cancer cells in vitro. Artemisinin has been used in clinical cancer treatment for people, and in dogs with osteosarcoma, with daily administration of small doses.  However, there are few reports of successful outcomes. We hypothesize that a weekly, high-dose of artemisinin will be well tolerated and will result in clinically relevant plasma concentrations to effect tumor growth, whereas a low daily dose will not.

Inclusion criteria

To be included in this study, dogs must have a histopathologic or cytopathologic confirmation of cancer.  Any tumor type will be included, but the tumor burden must be measurable.  The patient must have failed conventional treatment or the owner must be willing to use artemisinin instead of conventional cancer treatment. If dogs are enrolled into the study, no concurrent therapy other than pain control will be used.

Diagnostics, treatment, and compensation

The pretreatment workup will need to be completed before the patient is considered for the study.  This workup would consist of cytologic or histopathologic diagnosis.  Any appropriate tumor staging including CBC, chemistry profile and urinalysis. These costs would not be covered by the study.

Once enrolled in the study, regardless of the group to which the patient is assigned, the following diagnostics will be performed:

1. Weekly exams for 4 weeks and then every 2 to 4 weeks to monitor tumor size. 

2. CBC, chemistry profile, and urinalysis at week 4 and every 4 to 8 weeks thereafter.

3. Imaging (thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasound) necessary for tumor measurement.

Patients will be divided into two treatment groups, based on the dosage of artemisinin,  which will be provided by the study at no cost to the owners.  After the patient is enrolled in the study, the only cost to the owner will be the hospital fee of $19.00 per visit. 

For more information on this study, please contact Dr. William Kisseberth at (614) 292-3551 or e-mail