Translational History and Hope of Immunotherapy of Canine Tumors

Abstract

Companion dogs have served an important role in cancer immunotherapy research. Sharing similar environments and diets with humans, dogs naturally develop many of the same cancers. These shared exposures, coupled with dogs’ diverse genetic makeup, makes them ideal subjects for studying cancer therapies. Tumors like osteosarcoma (cOSA), hemangiosarcoma (cHSA), soft-tissue sarcoma (cSTS), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (cnHL) occur with greater frequency than their counterpart disease in humans. Canine brain tumors allow study of therapy strategies with imaging, surgery, and radiotherapy equipment in veterinary patients with near-human geometry. Non-specific immunostimulants, autologous and allogeneic vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and cellular therapies used treating canine cancers have been tested in veterinary clinical trials. These treatments have not only improved outcomes for dogs but have also provided valuable insights for human cancer treatment. Advancements in radiation technology and the development of tools to characterize canine immune responses have further facilitated the ability to translate veterinary clinical trial results to human applications. Advancements in immunotherapy of canine tumors have directly supported translation to human clinical trials leading to approved therapies for cancer patients around the world. The study of immunotherapy in dogs has been and will continue to be a promising avenue for advancing human cancer treatment.