The PVM Canine Brain Tumor Research Program is a research program involving all aspects of canine brain tumor research: diagnosis using MRI, surgery, chemotherapy and other post-operative therapies. We also work closely with the Radiation Oncology service who provide radiation therapy including Stereotactic Radiosurgery.

Directed by Dr. Timothy Bentley, a board-certified veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon, we run clinical trials and other research designed to improve the diagnosis, management and understanding of canine brain cancer. Working closely with collaborators all across campus here at Purdue, and collaborators at the IU School of Medicine, we also work towards finding new therapies and surgical devices for human brain tumor patients. Canine brain tumor surgeries are commonly performed in conjunction with an MD neurosurgeon at the IU School of Medicine.

Current clinical trials include:

• Brain Tumor Suspect MRI Program
  • If eligible, dogs suspected of having a brain tumor undergo a brain MRI for reduced cost. Eligibility requirements include complete bloodwork and chest radiographs within the last month.

Dog owners seeking more information should contact the Clinical Trials Office at veterinaryclinicaltrials@purdue.edu

Referring veterinarians should contact Dr. Timothy Bentley at (765) 494 1107 or rbentley@purdue.edu

Recent publications

• Bentley RT, Thomovsky SA, Miller MA, Knapp DW, Cohen-Gadol AA. Canine (Pet Dog) Tumor Microsurgery and Intratumoral Concentration and Safety of Metronomic Chlorambucil for Spontaneous Glioma: A Phase I Clinical Trial.World Neurosurg. 2018 Aug;116:e534-e542. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.05.027. Epub 2018 Jun 5.
• Filley A, Henriquez M, Bhowmik T, Tewari BN, Rao X, Wan J, Miller MA, Liu Y, Bentley RT, Dey M.Immunologic and gene expression profiles of spontaneous canine oligodendrogliomas. J Neurooncol. 2018 May;137(3):469-479. doi: 10.1007/s11060-018-2753-4. Epub 2018 Jan 12.
• Rancilio NJ, Bentley RT, Plantenga JP, Parys MM, Crespo BG, Moore GE. Safety and feasibility of stereotactic radiotherapy using computed portal radiography for canine intracranial tumors. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2017 (In press)
• Vigeral M, Bentley RT, Rancilio NJ, Miller MA, Heng HG. Imaging diagnosis -antemortem detection of oligodendroglioma "cerebrospinal fluid drop metastases" in a dog by serial magnetic resonance imaging. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2017 (In press)
• Bentley RT, Ahmed AU, Yanke AB, Cohen-Gadol AA, Dey M. Dogs are man's best friend: in sickness and in health. Neuro Oncol. 2017 Mar 1;19(3):312-322.
• LeBlanc AK, Mazcko C, Brown DE, Koehler JW, Miller AD, Miller CR, Bentley RT, et al (2016). Creation of an NCI comparative brain tumor consortium: informing the translation of new knowledge from canine to human brain tumor patients. Neuro Oncol 18:1209-18.
• Bentley RT (2015). Magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of brain tumors in dogs. Vet J 205:204-16
• Bentley RT, Burcham GN, Heng HG, et al (In press). A comparison of clinical, magnetic resonance imaging and pathological findings in dogs with gliomatosis cerebri, focusing on cases with minimal magnetic resonance imaging changes. Vet Comp Oncol.
• Bentley RT, Ober CP, Anderson KL, et al (2013). Canine intracranial gliomas: relationship between magnetic resonance imaging criteria and tumor type and grade. Vet J 198:463-71