Raemelton horse receiving cancer treatment – Richland Source

Developed by Morphogenesis, IFx-VETcancer vaccine is a multi-indication cancer immunotherapy that's offered by Veterinary Oncology Services. In 2013, Veterinary Oncology Services gained authorization from the USDA to provide IFx-VET across the U.S.

Tara Corrigan, director of operations at Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center, brushes David the horse.

Jenna Stigall smiles with David the horse.

Tara Corrigan, director of operations at Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center, brushes David the horse.

Jenna Stigall smiles with David the horse.

To date, personalized IFx-VETvaccines have been provided to veterinarians for the treatment of 37 different types of cancer in over 113 breeds of dogs, cats and horses with extremely favorable results, according to the company's website.

Tara Corrigan, director of operations at Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center, has been searching for a treatment for Raemelton's therapy horse, David, for the past four years. She learned of IFx-VET "out of the blue" while reading an article about an American Thoroughbred racehorse known as Alphabet Soup that received the treatment.

She's been working with Raemelton's veterinarian, Dr.RobertKrueger of Mount Vernon Animal Hospital, to help get David's melanoma cancer treated. According to Krueger, this type of cancer is common among gray horses.

"What cancer does is it hides from your body's immune system, so it gets into the cells of the body and it takes over the machinery and hides in there so the body doesn't recognize it as something foreign," Krueger said. "What immunotherapy is designed to do is try to make the cancer look foreign so it fights it off just like it would a strep infection or a bacterial infection. "

Immunotherapy dates back to ancient medicine.

In the latest version of this treatment, scientists are using genetics to stimulate the immune system to respond to the cancer.

"They take a strep organism and they splice the genes of the cancer into it so when that is injected into the horse as a strep, which is foreign to the horse, it pulls out the cancer also and attacks the cancer," Krueger explained.

"The idea is that it (the immunotherapy) is the forefront for a lot of human research, too," he said.

David will be given eight personalized vaccine injections made from his own cancer cells and will be monitored along the way.

"His immune system will start fighting it usually after the first or second shot," Krueger said.

The vaccine is designed to be a cure, so the hope is that his cancer will be eliminated.

"He's the only horse I know of that's getting this treatment in Ohio," Krueger said.

Corrigan said David has had cancer since Raemelton got him four years ago.

"One of the reasons I was excited about it for him is he is younger than the horses that they're having success with in Kentucky," Corrigan said.

David is 22 years old. He was a racehorse and then a Pony Club mount prior to serving as a therapy horse at Raemelton.

With good care, horses can live will into their 30s, Krueger said.

David has a number of melanoma tumors around his tail and neck, as well as internally.

"There's been a pretty good efficacy with this type of tumor," Krueger said. "The ones that have the best response are in healthy conditions. We have a good shot at it because he's a healthy horse."

Corrigan described David as a great therapy horse, noting he tolerates multiple disabilities very well.

"He builds confidence because he is a 'steady Eddie,' if you will, and he's easy for them to handle, safe for them to groom," she said. "He really does not have any bad habits."

Jenna Stigall, a Madison Comprehensive High School graduate, has ridden David for about four years as a form of therapy and at the Special Olympics.

Because of her disability--cerebral palsy--the 19-year-old experiences tightness in her legs, and David is able to accommodate that with his narrow body, making it easier for her to ride.

"I love riding David," she said. "We have a love/hate relationship.

"He can be stubborn and he likes to pose for pictures. I call him 'Poser.'"

She described David as very gentle and easy-going.

"He makes me work very hard at using my arms and legs to get him to listen to commands," she said.

She's happy to see that he's undergoing treatment and prays that he gets better.

"I hope this treatment will also help other horses," she said.

Raemelton, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, hopes to raise enough funds to cover the cost of the treatment, which is between $4,000 and $5,000.

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Raemelton horse receiving cancer treatment - Richland Source