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Steven Suter

Professor (Medical Oncology)

CVM Research Building 308

Bio

After completing an undergraduate degree in biology/chemistry, I left the academic arena to explore a variety of other job opportunities, including being a musician, commercial oil rig diving, and being a yacht electrician. In 2009, I earned an MS in biochemistry at The New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY and finally fulfilled one of my lifelong dreams when I gained entrance to The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. During this time, I was accepted into the VMD/PhD program and earned a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology in the laboratory of Dr. Paula Henthorn in the Section of Medical Genetics at the Veterinary School. My thesis title was, “The isolation and characterization of a population of canine putative hematopoietic progenitor cells and their utilization as targets for retroviral mediated gene therapy”. During this time, my growing interest in bone marrow transplantation and veterinary oncology led me to pursue a residency in Medical Oncology, which I completed at UC Davis in 2004 under the mentorship of Drs. Bruce Madewell and Cheryl London . After a brief time in private practice, I accepted a position in Medical Oncology at NC State and have been pursuing my research and clinical interests ever since! I am currently the Director of the Canine/Feline Oncology Diagnostic Laboratory and the Medical Director of the Canine Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. In addition, with the help of my excellent fellow Oncology faculty members and a cadre of wonderful Medical Oncology house officers and clinical technicians, I help run a very busy Medical Oncology service that diagnoses and treats companion animals with a wide variety of malignancies. My professional life is a marriage of both bench science and clinical practice, with many opportunities for overlap. Life is good!

 

Education

BS  (Biology/Chemistry) Indiana University of Pennsylvania

MS (Biochemistry) New York Medical College

VMD University of Pennsylvania

PhD (Molecular Biology) University of Pennsylvania

Area(s) of Expertise

SPONTANEOUS ANIMAL DISEASE MODELS, VETERINARY CANCER CARE
My laboratory’s main research focus is geared towards understanding the molecular underpinnings of canine hematologic malignancies using a variety of sophisticated “genomics” techniques such as qRT-PCR, gene expression profiling, epigenetic profiling, RNAseq, and GWAS studies. The laboratory also houses the vast majority of published canine lymphoid cell lines which we use for a variety of cell cytotoxicity studies to evaluate novel therapeutics. Finally, the laboratory houses the Canine/Feline Oncology Diagnostic Laboratory which offers a variety of PCR-based diagnostic tests for both NCSU CVM and referring veterinarians.

Publications

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Grants

Date: 11/12/20 - 10/31/21
Amount: $70,336.00
Funding Agencies: ELIAS Animal Health, LLC.

This randomized, prospective, controlled clinical trial is designed to obtain data to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Autologous Prescription Product, Code 95A7.50 (unlicensed), also referred to as the ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI®) as a treatment for dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma. All dogs will undergo amputation of the affected limb and the tumor will be submitted to ELIAS. Dogs will be randomized into one of two cohorts: one cohort will receive the experimental immunotherapy, while the other cohort will receive standard of care chemotherapy, consisting of four (4) doses of carboplatin. The outcomes of the two cohorts will be compared for effectiveness and any adverse events occurring during the study will be noted and assessed.

Date: 07/01/18 - 6/30/20
Amount: $97,430.00
Funding Agencies: V Foundation for Cancer Research

The supplement funds supports projects for Dr. Steven Suter: (1) Phase 2 of the MDH Pipeline-Bortezomib as First Line Therapy for Osteosarcoma and (2) Testing a new Prodrug Nanoparticle Formulation of Niclosamide as Novel Therapy for Osteosarcoma. The 3rd project these funds support is for Dr. Mariani (3) Establishing Laser Ablation as a Treatment for Canine Giloma and Modeling the Human Condition

Date: 01/01/16 - 11/01/19
Amount: $190,512.00
Funding Agencies: Morris Animal Foundation

The purpose of these studies are to: 1)Investigate the antimetastatic effects of rapamycin when added to an SOC backbone for the treatment of canine osteosarcoma, as measured by statistically significant improvement in disease-free interval (DFI) over SOC alone in a prospective, randomized clinical trial setting, and 2)Identify key factors related to tolerability and clinical efficacy of rapamycin when studied in the Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) setting, such as PK parameters, evidence of target modulation within surrogate tissues, and patient/tumor related factors

Date: 04/04/17 - 10/03/18
Amount: $0.00
Funding Agencies: Vyriad

This is a clinical trial to define the optimal dose and schedule for systemic VSV-IFNβ-NIS treatment in dogs with spontaneous cancer. The primary endpoint of the study will be the evaluation of viral pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics following systemic VSV treatment. Toxicity, safety, and efficacy will be assessed. Results of this study will be used to inform the design and implementation of clinical trials evaluating VSV-IFNβ-NIS in patients with relapsed or refractory cancer.

Date: 01/01/16 - 6/30/18
Amount: $112,320.00
Funding Agencies: Morris Animal Foundation

The purpose of these studies are to: 1)Investigate the antimetastatic effects of rapamycin when added to an SOC backbone for the treatment of canine osteosarcoma, as measured by statistically significant improvement in disease-free interval (DFI) over SOC alone in a prospective, randomized clinical trial setting, and 2)Identify key factors related to tolerability and clinical efficacy of rapamycin when studied in the Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) setting, such as PK parameters, evidence of target modulation within surrogate tissues, and patient/tumor related factors

Date: 12/01/16 - 11/30/17
Amount: $14,509.00
Funding Agencies: American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, Inc.

Canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a common, aggressive cancer in dogs. The average survival time after initial diagnosis is one year. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of DLBCL is often made late in disease and after the cancer is advanced, which negatively impacts the survival of the dog. Therefore, there is a need to 1) develop non-invasive screening methods to diagnose this aggressive cancer in its early stages and 2) identify novel therapies to treat this cancer. In human oncology, the discovery of a new type of gene called long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has led to the development of non-invasive screening methods for certain cancers. These lncRNAs are also being explored for their use as new cancer targets for drug development, which are expected to have fewer side effects than currently treatments. Since these lncRNA can be detected in blood of cancer patients, they can be used in non-invasive, early detection assays for some cancers. Recently, in human patients with DLBCL, lncRNA HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is highly expressed in human DLBCLs, as well as other cancers, and its expression is predictive of a poor prognosis; it is also being explored as a new target for cancer therapy. We will investigate canine lncRNA HOTAIR to determine if it is expressed in canine DLBCL and can be detected in the blood of cancer patients. If successful, this proposal will open new lines of research improving the detection and treatment of a common and devastating cancer of dogs.

Date: 12/01/02 - 3/31/15
Amount: $2,843,271.00
Funding Agencies: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

While genetic modification of mice has resulted in the generation of transgenic lines that have helped elucidate the role of a myriad of molecules in biological and pathological processes, the same is not true in swine. Technically, the mouse can be genetically manipulated not only inexpensively but also with exquisite precision. Xenotransplantation of pig organs into humans has the potential to significantly alleviate the problems associated with organ donor availability. Unfortunately, before swine can be used as an organ donor for humans it will be necessary to diminish or abolish all or most rejection phenomena including hyperacute rejection, acute vascular rejection, cellular rejection, and chronic rejection. This will require not only a thorough understanding of the rejection phenomena in xenotransplantation, but equally important a series of complex genetic modifications to modify swine molecules involved in each of the rejection steps. We propose here the continuation of the development of technology that will allow such precise genetic manipulation. To reach this overall goal we propose to: (a) Develop mechanism for enhancing homologous recombination in somatic cells. (b) Extend our abilities to do complex genetic modifications in somatic cells by extension of cellular life span. (c) Generate cloned swine using non-transgenic and genetically modified fetal fibroblasts. (d). Develop transgenic pigs that can be used in xenotrasnplantation and stem cell biology. Completion of the proposed aims will result not only in the generation of swine that can be used to facilitate the development of xenotransplant organs, but equally important it will result in the development of technology to allow the application of precise genetic manipulations to swine.

Date: 01/01/14 - 12/31/14
Amount: $17,625.00
Funding Agencies: NCSU Research and Innovation Seed Funding Program

T-cell lymphomas (TCL), which account for approximate 10-15% of human lymphomas, have a much poorer prognosis than B-cell lymphomas. Therapy development for TCL has been slow because of the relative rarity of the disease, subtype heterogeneity within the broader category of TCL, and, importantly, the lack of faithful animal models. Recent data suggests that the vast majority of boxer T-cell lymphomas are comprised of TCRαβ+ CD4+ T-cells. This is in stark contrast to T-cell lymphomas in other breeds of dogs where TCRαβ and CD4/CD8 expression is highly variable. Similar to human T-cell lymphoma patients, canine T-cell lymphoma patients, including boxers, have a much shorter overall survival than dogs with BCL. We hypothesize that the development of this very specific type of T-cell lymphoma (CD4+ helper T-cell) in a highly inbred breed of dogs, such as boxers, is a heritable disease. Since human TCL is difficult to study because of its rarity and heterogeneity, boxers may provide a robust animal model to elucidate the drivers of T-cell lymphomagenesis. The gene(s) we identify could provide essential information about the biology of TCL that are relevant to both canine and human TCL, reinforcing the One Health concept.

Date: 09/01/11 - 8/31/13
Amount: $6,000.00
Funding Agencies: NCSU Veterinary Medical Foundation

Thrombocytopenia is a common blood abnormality defined by a decreased platelet number. Platelets are key contributors to hemostasis, or the ability to form a stable blood clot to prevent bleeding. Patients with critically low platelet counts are at increased risk for developing spontaneous, life-threatening hemorrhage. Guidelines in human medicine advocate immediate and aggressive therapeutic intervention to avoid life-threatening bleeding by using platelet transfusions. Our institution recently evaluated the use of a bed-side analyzer (thromboelastography or TEG), platelet count, and standard coagulation profile to predict bleeding in a thrombocytopenic population of canines and found TEG, specifically the maximum amplitude (MA), to be the best indicator of bleeding (manuscript in progress). This tool is already used in human medicine to assess hemostasis and guide transfusions in thrombocytopenic patients undergoing surgical procedures. This study attempts to identify the most efficacious platelet transfusion product to prevent and potentially treat bleeding episodes in the same aforementioned population of thrombocytopenic canines. The investigators anticipate that this data will serve as a foundation for future studies to improve management and reduce mortality due to life-threatening hemorrhage in thrombocytopenic dogs. Also, financial resources can be directed towards the most efficacious product available, as pet owners? financial restrictions often dictate whether or not animals continue with treatment.

Date: 07/01/12 - 6/30/13
Amount: $4,325.00
Funding Agencies: Pfizer, Inc.

Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitors are an emerging treatment for dogs with mast cell tumors. Approximately 30% of dogs with mast cell tumors have a mutation in a RTK protein called c-kit. Therefore, these dogs may respond better to a drug called Palladia, which directly inhibits this protein when it is mutated. We have also recently found that a canine cell line called GL-1 has a mutation in another RTK called FLT3 and that ~25% of dogs with acute lymphocytic leukemia harbor this mutation. Preliminary data suggests that Palladia, and perhaps another commercially available RTK inhibitor called masitinib, also bind to and inhibit FLT3. The goal of this study is to utilize canine cell lines that either do or don't express FLT3 to determine if Palladia or masitinib have growth inhibitory effects. If so, these findings may lay the groundwork for future studies whereby these drugs can be tested in dogs who have acute lymphocytic leukemia.


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