Unfortunately, our closest furry companions, dogs and cats, suffer from many of the same cancers as humans. According to one study, 45% of the dogs that reached 10 years of age or older died of cancer, and Cancer research with dogs has helped design clinical trials for human cancer therapy. Wednesday, June 11, Dr. Ralph Smith will introduce Professor of Surgical Oncology and Associate Director of the Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University, Dr. Stephen Withrow, to update us on animal cancer research, and CSU’s role.

 

CSU’s 35,000 square foot Robert H. and Mary G Flint Animal Cancer Center (FACC) opened in 2002 as an addition to the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. According to their website, the FACC is the preeminent cancer center for animals offering the latest in diagnostics and treatment for all kinds of cancer in companion animals including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Dr. Withrow graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1972 and completed an internship and surgical residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. He did post-doctorate training in surgical oncology and musculoskeletal biology at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester) and Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston), before joining the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in 1978. He has received numerous teaching, service and research awards, including being awarded the University Distinguished Professorship, the highest academic honor at the university, in 2004. He has authored more than 300 scientific articles and one textbook. His research interest includes multimodality treatment of cancer in animals as a model for humans with cancer.

Dr. Withrow is the only veterinarian admitted as a member of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society. He is also the past president of the Veterinary Cancer Society and is a member of numerous professional organizations.