Two UC Davis clinical trials are recruiting dogs with glioma

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is recruiting dogs with suspected or confirmed glioma for 2 clinical trials taking different approaches to the disease. One study is testing an experimental drug alongside radiation therapy, while the other is tracking dogs over time to better understand tumor biology and disease progression.

Gliomas are tumors that arise from glial cells in the brain. In dogs, they include astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, and can cause signs such as seizures, disorientation, behavioral changes and vision loss. The tumors are difficult to treat, and most dogs diagnosed with glioma eventually die from the disease.

The studies, conducted through the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine and funded by the National Cancer Institute, are also examining whether naturally occurring canine gliomas can provide insight into brain tumors in people.

CARE trial tests an investigational drug with radiation

The Combined Autophagy inhibition and Radiation to improve Efficacy in canine glioma (CARE) trial is evaluating an investigational drug in dogs undergoing radiation therapy.

The drug is designed to inhibit autophagy, a cellular process that can help cancer cells survive under stress. Researchers are investigating whether inhibiting autophagy makes glioma cells more susceptible to radiation, while also assessing whether the drug reaches the tumor and produces the expected biological effects.

Dogs enrolled in CARE receive the drug intravenously twice a week for 4 weeks while undergoing standard radiation therapy. They undergo a brain tumor biopsy before treatment and another afterward, allowing researchers to compare tumor tissue before and after therapy.

The study covers the cost of study-related procedures and provides $4,000 toward radiation therapy. Families remain responsible for expenses not covered by the study.

Because the drug is investigational, its safety and effectiveness have not been established. Assessing safety, tumor uptake and biological response are among the study's objectives.

PRISM trial tracks tumor biology and disease progression

The Precision Research Integrating Symptoms and Molecular Biology in Canine Glioma (PRISM) trial is designed to examine how gliomas change over time and how those changes relate to a dog's clinical course.

Researchers are recruiting 60 dogs across 2 pathways—the observational/palliative pathway and the radiation therapy pathway. Both involve collecting tumor tissue and following the dogs clinically, but the treatment approach differs.

Dogs in the observational/palliative pathway do not receive experimental therapy through the study. They return to UC Davis for monthly visits and brain magnetic resonance imaging examinations, allowing researchers to track the tumor and changes in clinical signs.

The study provides $3,000 toward the initial diagnostic workup, estimated at about $7,000, and covers trial-related follow-up care. This pathway is intended in part for families who cannot or do not plan to pursue advanced treatment but want a definitive diagnosis and an opportunity to participate in research.

The second PRISM pathway follows dogs receiving radiation therapy. These dogs return for follow-up visits and brain MRI examinations every 3 months. The study provides $3,000 toward radiation treatment and covers trial-related follow-up care.

Both pathways include a brain tumor biopsy at the beginning of the study. If a family later chooses euthanasia, participation also includes a postmortem examination. Researchers will use the tumor tissue and clinical information collected during the study to examine relationships between tumor biology and disease progression.

One goal of PRISM is to identify distinct molecular subtypes of canine glioma. More precise classification could eventually help researchers identify potential treatment targets and determine which canine tumors may be particularly relevant to pediatric or adult glioma in people.

Why researchers are studying canine gliomas

Canine gliomas are of interest as potential models for human brain tumors because they develop spontaneously in dogs rather than being experimentally induced. Dogs also develop cancer within an intact immune system, and have the genetic and environmental variation found in a clinical population.

Christine Toedebusch, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Neurology), director of the UC Davis Translational Brain Tumor Center and an associate professor at the veterinary school, said canine glioma is becoming increasingly accepted as a translational model for human glioma.

“Companion canines with glioma are becoming more readily acceptable as a translational model for human glioma,” Toedebusch said in a report by UC Davis.

“Trials like this potentially open up new treatments for both dogs and humans,” she added.

Dogs with suspected glioma may be eligible

A confirmed glioma diagnosis is not necessarily required before contacting the study team, UC Davis said. Dogs with suspected glioma may be screened, with eligibility determined based on the dog's diagnosis, condition, and medical history.

Screening, study procedures and follow-up visits take place through UC Davis in Davis, California. Owners and referring veterinarians can contact the Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials at (530) 754-1954 for information about eligibility and participation.

Participation in a clinical trial does not guarantee an improved outcome for an individual dog, according to UC Davis. The CARE treatment remains investigational, and the observational PRISM pathway does not provide experimental therapy.

Reference

1. Hinds T. Clinical trials offer new options for dogs with glioma brain tumors. UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine; September 3, 2026.