No. Grafton, Mass. – With the installation of a $1.4 million spiral CT scanner, Tufts' Veterinary School became one of the first in the nation to study cancer in animals with such advanced technology.

   The cancer diagnostic equipment is part of a five-year research project to strengthen the effectiveness of radiation treatments on animals with cancer. The multi-faceted study may ultimately help doctors improve cancer treatments for human patients. Tufts researchers will test the ability of radiosensitive compounds to increase the effectiveness of radiation treatments.

   "If found to be effective, these compounds could enable doctors in the future to lower doses of radiation needed to kill tumors," said Dr. David Ruslander, an assistant professor of oncology at Tufts' Veterinary School.