In fact, canine cases of the disease are helping scientists learn some new tricks about treating the second deadliest cancer among men.
"The only animal that gets prostate cancer, in addition to men, are dogs," said Dr. Thomas Rosol, of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. "And the disease is very similar in dogs as it is in men."
Rosol has been studying prostate cancer in dogs to learn how advanced cases metastasize, or spread, to the bones. Until now, there hasn't been a good way to study that process.
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By using cancer cells taken from dogs, Rosol's research team created a new cell line - the first that closely mimics prostate cancer cells in humans, which could someday give them insights into new treatments.
"That would be really tremendous, if down the road, we can actually inhibit the bone metastasis," said Rosol. "This would be an enormous breakthrough for human medicine."
Preventing metastasis would be especially valuable for people like Jim Strecker. He's been battling prostate cancer for seven years, but he never felt any pain from it until it spread to his bones. At that point, the pain grew so severe that he couldn't sleep or enjoy his artwork.
"Even doing my sculpture downstairs, my back would get so tired and so painful that I had to stop from time to time," Strecker said.
Strecker eventually found a treatment that makes his condition less painful. But someday doctors may be able to do more than just ease the pain. With the help of man's best friend, they might be able to sculpt a treatment that stops prostate cancer in the first place.
The new cell line is significant because it allows researchers to test new prostate cancer treatments the lab, which is much faster and easier than in humans.
Source: http://www.prostate-search.com/news/prostate-cancer/key-prostate-cancer.php
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