Digory's Trial: EGFR/HER2 Osteosarcoma Vaccine Trial
The Leonberger Health Foundation International is supporting a new EGFR vaccine trial for the treatment of osteosarcoma in 30 Leonberger dogs. The vaccine is being developed by Dr Mark Mamula at Yale University School of Medicine. Epidermal Growth Factor receptors (EGFR) are highly expressed on the surface of canine osteosarcoma cells and have been found to be involved in promoting aggressive tumor growth. Immunotherapy targeting of these receptors has been successfully used to treat human cancers and is now being tried in dogs.
By the time osteosarcoma is diagnosed in a dog, cancer cells have already spread throughout the body. Even though the primary bone tumor is removed, these metastases will grow and eventually cause death. This is why osteosarcoma has such a poor prognosis. It is hoped that the new vaccine will induce antibody production against canine EGFR. These antibodies can then bind to EGFR on the tumor cells and block EGFR signaling. If successful, growth of metastatic cancer cells will then be slowed or eliminated.
Currently, treatment for osteosarcoma includes surgical removal of the primary bone tumor (amputation or limb-sparing procedures) and chemotherapy. Since bone cancer is one of the most painful cancers and is resistant to pain medications, a decision to euthanize or treat must be made as soon as possible. Your vet can help with this decision as there are a lot of things to consider; dog’s physical health, location of tumor, risks/benefits, possible complications, cost, time commitment for travel and recovery, home situation (e.g. stairs), etc. Unfortunately, despite treatment, lifespan is only extended by a matter of months (median of 10 months) due to growth of the metastatic tumors that have already spread. Preliminary studies have found that addition of the new EGFR vaccine can help reduce and/or eliminate these metastatic tumors, extending survival times by 6 months or more over those obtained by standard of care treatment alone.*
If you wish to participate in the vaccine study, you will need to contact one of the oncologists on the list (link to trial sites can be found below). They will help coordinate treatment with a surgeon. Because this is a research study, only sites on the list which have been qualified by the USDA can be used. There is a study protocol that needs to be followed. It will be very important to collect tumor tissue and blood samples at the time of surgery. In addition, radiographs, or other tests (e.g. ultrasound, urinalysis) will be required to help predict which cells or molecules may be predictive of an immune response. Your dog will receive an initial dose of vaccine and then a second booster at 21 days. Follow-up testing will include chest x-rays at 3, 6, and 9 months. Additional blood work will be collected at each visit; baseline, day 21, day 40-50, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months. Your dog will be followed for at least 12 months. There is no cost to the owner for the vaccine, but you will be responsible for the cost of the evaluations, surgery, and chemotherapy.
Pilot studies in this program indicate that incidence and/or stasis or reduction of metastatic masses can be achieved with EGFR based immunotherapy.
*H Doyle, R Gee, T Masters, C Gee, C Booth, E Peterson-Roth, R Koski, S Helfand, L Price, D Bascombe, D Jackson, R Ho, G Post, M Mamula. Vaccine-induced ErbB (EGFR/HER2)-specific immunity in spontaneous canine cancer. Translational Oncology 14 (2021) 101205.
By the time osteosarcoma is diagnosed in a dog, cancer cells have already spread throughout the body. Even though the primary bone tumor is removed, these metastases will grow and eventually cause death. This is why osteosarcoma has such a poor prognosis. It is hoped that the new vaccine will induce antibody production against canine EGFR. These antibodies can then bind to EGFR on the tumor cells and block EGFR signaling. If successful, growth of metastatic cancer cells will then be slowed or eliminated.
Currently, treatment for osteosarcoma includes surgical removal of the primary bone tumor (amputation or limb-sparing procedures) and chemotherapy. Since bone cancer is one of the most painful cancers and is resistant to pain medications, a decision to euthanize or treat must be made as soon as possible. Your vet can help with this decision as there are a lot of things to consider; dog’s physical health, location of tumor, risks/benefits, possible complications, cost, time commitment for travel and recovery, home situation (e.g. stairs), etc. Unfortunately, despite treatment, lifespan is only extended by a matter of months (median of 10 months) due to growth of the metastatic tumors that have already spread. Preliminary studies have found that addition of the new EGFR vaccine can help reduce and/or eliminate these metastatic tumors, extending survival times by 6 months or more over those obtained by standard of care treatment alone.*
If you wish to participate in the vaccine study, you will need to contact one of the oncologists on the list (link to trial sites can be found below). They will help coordinate treatment with a surgeon. Because this is a research study, only sites on the list which have been qualified by the USDA can be used. There is a study protocol that needs to be followed. It will be very important to collect tumor tissue and blood samples at the time of surgery. In addition, radiographs, or other tests (e.g. ultrasound, urinalysis) will be required to help predict which cells or molecules may be predictive of an immune response. Your dog will receive an initial dose of vaccine and then a second booster at 21 days. Follow-up testing will include chest x-rays at 3, 6, and 9 months. Additional blood work will be collected at each visit; baseline, day 21, day 40-50, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months. Your dog will be followed for at least 12 months. There is no cost to the owner for the vaccine, but you will be responsible for the cost of the evaluations, surgery, and chemotherapy.
Pilot studies in this program indicate that incidence and/or stasis or reduction of metastatic masses can be achieved with EGFR based immunotherapy.
*H Doyle, R Gee, T Masters, C Gee, C Booth, E Peterson-Roth, R Koski, S Helfand, L Price, D Bascombe, D Jackson, R Ho, G Post, M Mamula. Vaccine-induced ErbB (EGFR/HER2)-specific immunity in spontaneous canine cancer. Translational Oncology 14 (2021) 101205.