Charlie, that's great news! I'm always happy to hear about ongoing pharmaceutical studies that may benefit both dogs and humans. (And in this case, both cancer and heart disease, it sounds like.)
Owning Dobermans for a long time, I am, unfortunately, too well-acquainted with DCM, which is quite prevalent in the breed. (In Dobermans, at least, it stands for dilated cardiomyopathy.)
There is a drug currently in use called pimobendan, trade name, Vetmedin, that is commonly used to treat DCM in Dobermans nowadays. I know that Boxers get a slightly different type of cardiomyopathy, so I don't know if the same drug is used for that. And of course DCM and other types of heart failure show up in all breeds. My understanding is pimobendan is approved for human use in Japan, but nowhere else at this time.
I have a six-year-old female Dobe that was diagnosed with DCM about three months ago and was put on a drug regimen that includes pimobendan, elanapril, and spironolactone. Her comfort level seems greatly improved. I'm not kidding myself; DCM is always progressive in dogs. But if we can prolong their lives comfortably, it's worth it. I'm quite sure she would have been gone by now without these drugs.
So I just wanted to mention for those who may not know that there are drugs currently available that are helping, but I'm extremely happy to see there is ongoing research that may find something even better!
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DCM - Degenerative Cardio Myopathy
#381988 - 08/19/2013 11:53 AM 
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