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Hemangiosarcoma is a highly aggressive cancer associated with blood vessel cells, most commonly affecting the spleen, heart, and skin. Conventional therapies, such as surgery and chemotherapy, offer limited success due to the cancer's rapid spread and high likelihood of metastasis before diagnosis. Even with treatment, survival times are typically short, ranging from a few weeks to several months.
However, based on clinical studies, immunotherapy treatments show promise for extending survival times. Immunotherapy treats hemangiosarcoma by harnessing the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells, slowing or controlling metastasis. Examples of immunotherapy treatments include EGFR/HER2 Therajan vaccine, Immunocidin, and Torigen vaccine.
A new study is now enrolling dogs diagnosed with splenic hemangiosarcoma (HSA) in an immunotherapy clinical trial at three veterinary school hospitals. The study is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine in combination with the standard care chemotherapy, after surgery.
The vaccine was created by a team led by Prof Stephen Johnston at Arizona State University and is being commercialized by Calviri.
How does Calviri Vaccine Work?
In human trials, personalized cancer vaccines based on tumor-associated mutations are starting to show promise and are being evaluated in multiple clinical trials. But these vaccines are tailored to individual mutations in tumor DNA, and are complex and expensive to manufacture.
Instead, Prof Johnston’s team has identified a different source of cancer-associated proteins (neoantigens) created from tumor RNA variants. These proteins result from errors in RNA processing and are called frame-shift peptides. It turns out that these neoantigens are shared across patients and tumor types, which allows Calviri to design off-the-shelf vaccines. So unlike personalized cancer vaccines, Calviri’s vaccine is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
Earlier, the same team ran a clinical trial and tested a preventative cancer vaccine made from similarly identified neoantigens in dogs. The earlier canine trial is closed and the results are expected to be published soon.
Trial Locations
Canine patients will be able to enroll in this trial at three veterinary oncology hospitals at
the University of Wisconsin, Colorado State University, and the University of California-Davis.
University of Wisconsin Veterinary Cancer Center oncclinicaltrials@vetmed.wisc.edu
UC Davis Veterinary
Colorado State
Trial Details
All the dogs in the trial will receive standard of care chemotherapy after splenectomy.
The trial is a blinded, randomized trial. Half of the dogs will be randomly selected to receive chemotherapy and the anti-cancer vaccine, while the other half will receive chemotherapy and a control vaccine (placebo).
The study is fully funded and covers all examination visits, lab work, diagnostics, chemotherapy, and vaccine costs. Surgery is not covered.
Participation Requirements:
Dogs must have undergone a splenectomy for confirmed splenic HSA within the past 3 weeks.
They must weigh over 5 kg and meet specific health criteria.
The study is fully funded but does not cover the cost of the initial splenectomy.
Please contact the hospitals for the details.
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Canine Cancer Alliance is a non-profit organization supporting research for canine cancer cures.
All information on the Canine Cancer Alliance website is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice.
Always seek guidance from your veterinarian with any questions regarding your pet’s health and medical condition.