Canine Cancer Survivor May Help Children Next

Clarice the silver Labrador's novel treatment approach could inform pediatric sarcoma immunotherapy.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

When 6-year-old silver Labrador Clarice was diagnosed with a malignant tumor near her left wrist, her family sought care at the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. There, Clarice became part of a novel multimodal treatment approach developed in collaboration with Seattle Children's Hospital, combining intratumoral immunotherapy, surgical excision, and adjuvant radiation therapy. The research partnership between veterinary and pediatric oncology highlights the growing role of comparative oncology, using naturally occurring cancers in dogs to inform immunotherapy strategies for human patients.

Why it matters

Soft tissue sarcomas are a common type of malignant tumor in dogs, with an estimated 95,000 cases diagnosed annually in the U.S. The success of Clarice's treatment could help refine immune-targeted approaches for difficult-to-treat sarcomas in both canine and human patients.

The details

Clarice's tumor was located near her carpus, making wide surgical margins challenging. Amputation would have been complicated by preexisting arthritis in her opposite shoulder. The novel treatment protocol combined intratumoral immunotherapy to activate T-cell response, followed by surgical excision and three rounds of radiation therapy. The surgical outcome was optimal, with no palpable tumor present at the time of radiation initiation.

  • Clarice was diagnosed with a malignant tumor near her left wrist in 2026.
  • Clarice underwent the novel multimodal treatment approach in early 2026.
  • Clarice completed three rounds of radiation therapy following the surgical excision.

The players

Clarice

A 6-year-old silver Labrador diagnosed with a malignant tumor near her left wrist.

Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital

The veterinary hospital where Clarice received her novel multimodal treatment approach.

Seattle Children's Hospital

The pediatric hospital that collaborated with WSU on the development of the novel treatment protocol.

Dr. Janean Fidel

The WSU oncologist overseeing Clarice's care.

Dayla Culp

Clarice's owner, who was still grieving the loss of her sister to breast cancer.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“So many people in our families have had cancer. If there was a chance this could help somebody else someday, especially a child, that mattered to us.”

— Dayla Culp

“In the end, we wanted to do everything we could for Clarice. But knowing her treatment might help someone else someday made the decision feel even more meaningful.”

— Jon Culp

What’s next

The research partnership between veterinary and pediatric oncology will continue, as data from trials like Clarice's may help refine immune-targeted approaches for difficult-to-treat sarcomas in both canine and human patients.

The takeaway

Clarice's successful treatment using a novel multimodal approach highlights the growing role of comparative oncology, where naturally occurring cancers in dogs are used to inform immunotherapy strategies for human patients, potentially leading to improved outcomes for both species.