A legacy of hope: Buddha’s contribution to cancer research

The future of cancer treatment may be less about surgery and more about sound. 

This foundational principle is at the heart of the work at Virginia Tech, where researchers are developing histotripsy, a non-invasive, focused ultrasound technology that is transforming care for bone cancer in dogs, with implications for humans.

“So many dogs are affected by osteosarcoma, which is a very painful disease and also very aggressive,” said Joanne Tuohy, associate professor of surgical oncology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and one of the researchers leading the effort. “And unfortunately, people, especially children and teenagers, are also affected by osteosarcoma in very similar ways.”

But scientific breakthroughs rely on the courage of patients and families willing to step into the unknown. The harsh reality of this disease became immediate and personal for one such family and their dog, Buddha.

A video of a histotripsy "bubble cloud" forming.

“Back in July, we noticed that Buddha had a lump on his right leg and he was limping, so we thought maybe he had twisted his ankle,” said owner Eugenio Burgaleta. “My wife, Laurie, took him to the vet, they did X-rays, and were like, ‘Well, bad news, he's got bone cancer. Osteosarcoma.’ It was devastating.”

Standard treatment options — amputation, chemotherapy, and radiation — each came with serious consequences for the large 7-year-old Rottweiler-Pyrenees mix. For the Burgaletas, traditional care meant sacrificing their dog's mobility and happiness.

"We wanted him to have a good life for as long as possible," Burgaleta said. "And we didn't feel that amputation would give that to him."

Seeking an alternative that preserved both his leg and his comfort, the family enrolled Buddha in the histotripsy clinical trial.

The science of sound

Histotripsy is a non-thermal focused ultrasound technology that uses sound waves to mechanically destroy cancerous tissue.

"Histotripsy is very precise,” said Elliana Vickers, a biomedical engineering Ph.D. candidate in the Therapeutic Ultrasound and Non-Invasive Therapies Laboratory. “The focused ultrasound creates these bubbles that are expanding and collapsing, almost like a little bubble blender that just mechanically disintegrates and liquefies the cancerous tissue without harming the cells around it." 

Tuohy and her College of Engineering collaborator,  Eli Vlaisavljevich, Kendall and Laura Hendrick Junior Faculty Fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, are focused on using this technology to combat the challenges of bone cancer.

"We embarked on this journey to develop histotripsy for ablating osteosarcoma," Tuohy said. "Our first goal is to ablate the tumor in the bone. If we can eliminate the tumor within the bone, then we could offer a non-surgical limb-sparing technique that can help dogs and people preserve their limbs."

The density of bone presents a unique physical barrier, reflecting sound waves in a way that soft tissue does not.

"It makes treating tumors inside bone more challenging," Vickers said. "Our view is more limited; it takes longer to treat, and it takes a higher dose to treat. It's just tougher. But if we can treat osteosarcoma with histotripsy, I feel like there's nothing we can't treat."

A special patient

For Buddha's family, the decision to enroll him was rooted in a desire to help others. "We were thrilled that he was part of a study that will help other dogs and hopefully other people," Burgaleta said.

From a patient perspective, Buddha embodied the ideal study candidate, primarily because he was delighted to participate. His calm and friendly temperament transformed his visits from a medical necessity into a social call.

“Buddha was just the best boy. He was a really special dog and always happy to come in and spend the day with us," said Vickers.

"Once Buddha met you, he was your friend for life,” said Burgaleta. “He met Dr. Tuohy at his initial visit, and then he met Elliana and Andy, and Robyn, the whole team. Every time he came here, he couldn't wait to get out of the car because his friends were here."

Honoring a contribution

Buddha’s participation in the trial provided a crucial window into the efficacy of this new treatment. The first round of therapy successfully improved his pain and quality of life, allowing him more time being his “big-bellied” joyful self back home on the farm.

Osteosarcoma, however, is a relentless disease. About three months after the start of his first treatment, the tumor returned, and the family elected to proceed with a second round of therapy.

Following this second treatment, Buddha developed an extremely unusual condition in his leg that the research team is now working to understand. Facing this new challenge, the Burgaletas recognized that the quality of life they cherished for Buddha was fading. True to their commitment to always put his well-being first, they made the compassionate decision to say goodbye.

“Even though his second round of treatments was not as successful as his first round was, we are still learning from Buddha, and his contribution to the research will always be incredibly important,” said Tuohy.

“Every dog and even every individual treatment, we learn, and we make advances,” Vickers said. "Buddha taught us so much and continues to teach us more about this disease and this treatment. He will always have a special place in our hearts."

The future of cancer care

Virginia Tech is at the forefront of this work, designated as a Focused Ultrasound Center of Excellence by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.

The osteosarcoma trial is already paving the way for advancements in other areas. Tuohy is actively developing histotripsy trials for dogs affected by liver cancer and oral cancer, while other researchers at the veterinary college are exploring applications in brain tumors and equine sarcoids

The families enrolling their pets are contributing directly to medical knowledge.

“They participate because they truly believe in contributing to the well-being of other dogs and people with cancer,” Tuohy said. 

“These trials are important to be able to advance new treatments and new technology, which will improve outcomes and lives of pets with cancer. We gain knowledge through every patient.”

Through his participation, Buddha became part of that knowledge, leaving a legacy that may help save others in the future.