A Comparative Study with Shared Potential

Supported by the Osteosarcoma Institute (OSI) and Ethos Discovery, the MIMIC trial is part of a growing field called comparative oncology, where naturally occurring diseases in animals are studied to inform human medicine.

These studies allow researchers to evaluate potential treatments by asking questions that cannot be easily asked in conventional preclinical models or human clinical trials alone. In short, comparative oncology is a powerful tool to speed progress toward new treatments for families facing osteosarcoma.

The trial is designed to evaluate whether a less-invasive technique, known as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), can be used to remove metastatic tumors from the lungs of dogs with osteosarcoma. A metastasectomy is a surgical procedure to remove cancer that has spread from the original tumor site to another part of the body — most commonly the lungs in osteosarcoma.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is already a well-established technique in human medicine, commonly used to remove lung nodules with minimal trauma. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery involves inserting a small camera and specialized instruments through tiny incisions in the chest, allowing surgeons to operate with less disruption to surrounding tissue. By adapting this approach for canine patients, researchers create a real-world model that closely resembles human care — allowing discoveries to flow more quickly toward children and young adults with the disease.

Reducing Treatment Barriers

Chand Khanna, DVM, PhD, a veterinary oncologist and chair of the Osteosarcoma Institute’s Strategic Advisory Board, leads the project.

“Traditionally, removing lung metastases in dogs required a highly invasive procedure,” says Dr. Khanna, who also is co-founder and board chair of Ethos Discovery. “It is a difficult recovery, often involving one to two weeks in the ICU, which is a major barrier for many pet owners.”

By contrast, the VATS approach uses pencil-sized incisions and a small video camera to help surgeons locate and remove the nodules. The entire procedure can be completed in a single day, and dogs can return home the same evening.

For pet owners, that means better access to care. For researchers and families affected by osteosarcoma, it means a more efficient way to evaluate new drugs in combination with surgery, moving potential discoveries more quickly into human trials.

“With MIMIC, we can now ask not only how much clinical benefit the surgery provides but also begin layering in investigational drugs, monitoring for therapeutic impact in a setting more closely resembling early human clinical trials,” Dr. Khanna explains.

MIMIC Study Design and Eligibility

The MIMIC trial is being conducted in phases, beginning with a surgical feasibility study, followed by assessments of surgical benefit. Dogs enrolled in the study are closely monitored post-procedure, with data collected on recovery time, complications, and recurrence rates. Future phases will then integrate the study of investigational therapeutics.

Dogs eligible for enrollment must meet specific criteria, including confirmed metastatic osteosarcoma and overall health stability sufficient for anesthesia and surgery. These standards help ensure the reliability of the study’s findings and protect animal welfare throughout the research process.

A Shared Vision for Better Osteosarcoma Treatment Outcomes

The collaboration between the Osteosarcoma Institute and Ethos Discovery reflects a growing trend toward integrated, cross-disciplinary research. By combining veterinary oncology expertise with the OSI’s commitment to translational research, the MIMIC trial exemplifies how shared priorities can accelerate progress.

This partnership also helps ensure that promising therapies are explored in similar preclinical and clinical contexts, maximizing their potential benefit.

This work aligns with the Osteosarcoma Institute’s long-term goal: to accelerate the development of better treatments for people with osteosarcoma through innovative and collaborative research efforts. By investing in comparative oncology, the OSI continues to champion new strategies that benefit both human and veterinary patients.

If you have a dog with osteosarcoma, view the MIMIC trial’s eligibility requirements.

If you are a supporter, know that your support of the Osteosarcoma Institute is directly fueling translational research like the MIMIC trial that begins with dogs but we hope will lead to new treatments, and ultimately a cure, for humans with osteosarcoma.