Minnesota Researchers Refine Experimental Hemangiosarcoma Treatment

Researchers at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine are developing a promising experimental treatment for canine hemangiosarcoma, a typically fatal cancer affecting around 50,000 dogs annually in the U.S. The therapy combines a blood test that detects cancer cells with eBAT, a genetically engineered drug designed to target and destroy hemangiosarcoma cells. eBAT fuses two antibodies that bind to receptors commonly found on cancerous—but not healthy—cells, delivering a modified toxin that halts tumor growth and kills supporting blood vessel cells.

In a 2017 pilot study, 70% of dogs treated with eBAT after surgery and before chemotherapy survived at least six months, with some living over 450 days—marking the most significant advance in decades. However, a 2020 follow-up trial involving repeated eBAT cycles resulted in higher toxicity and reduced effectiveness. Researchers are now exploring whether the combined blood test and eBAT approach can serve as a preventive screening and treatment tool.