A new vaccine that can significantly reduce the risk of cancer in dogs is showing promise in clinical trials. Cancer is the leading cause of death in senior dogs, and most of us have watched a beloved dog go through it. The new vaccine offers hope for a cancer-free future for our canine companions.
Stephen Johnston, PhD, CEO of Calviri, started creating a cancer vaccine about 15 years ago. “We had some discoveries, and we thought we had a path to do such a thing, but everyone thought it was impossible. They still do, mostly,” Johnston tells Daily Paws.
His determination led to successful studies in mice, proving that a cancer prevention vaccine is feasible. After years of research and development, a vaccine was created and clinical trials began. The most current trial, The Vaccination Against Canine Cancer Study, is underway, and pet parents can enroll their dogs if they meet the qualifications.
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How the Vaccine Works
The canine cancer vaccine targets what Johnston calls “mistakes” made by tumors, known as neoantigens, which can provoke immune system response. Johnston’s team developed DNA technology to identify useful neoantigens among 1.4 million possibilities, then isolated 30 specific neoantigens into the vaccine.
Johnston says it’s not much different than other vaccinations. ‘”We vaccinate with the mistakes and prepare the immune system to mount the defense as soon as the tumor arises, so it’s just like an infectious disease in that regard.”
The canine cancer vaccine aims to prevent eight major types of canine cancer:
- Mast cell tumors
- Osteosarcoma
- Lymphoma
- Melanoma
- Mammary cancer
- Lung cancer
- Soft tissue carcinomas
- Hemangiosarcoma
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Promising Results
Clinical trials are still underway, but current results show a reduction in the number of tumors for about 65 percent of dogs vaccinated. Johnston says this number needs to be higher, and it’s one of several challenges for the next phase of development. While the vaccine has shown a substantial reduction in mast cell tumors and adrenal tumors (which cause Cushing’s syndrome), it did not prevent all eight types of cancer, particularly hemangiosarcoma. “We now know why—we just didn’t put the right components in. So the next version will have components for hemangiosarcoma.”
Despite the favorable results, some have expressed concerns about raising an autoimmune response, but Johnston says that no safety issues have occurred during the trials.
Johnston visited the sites during vaccine initiations and asked pet parents about their motivation for participation. “A lot of the owners said they’re doing this because they’ve had a dog in the past who died of cancer,” Johnston says. “But the majority of them said they’re also doing it because they hope it translates to humans.”
Unexpected Benefits
Surprisingly, trials have revealed more than 50% reduction in the incidence of non-cancer chronic diseases, such as arthritis and metabolic diseases. Johnston says this appears to be an unexpected immune response against senescent cells, also known as zombie cells. “Senescent cells are thought to be the starting point for most chronic diseases,” explains Johnston. “Our vaccine is accidentally raising an immune response to get rid of senescent cells.”
The Future of Canine Cancer Prevention
The vaccine still needs to get USDA approval and undergo an additional trial, which could take a year or more. When it does become available to the public, Johnston stresses that it will be reasonably priced, especially compared to the high cost of cancer treatments. “From the beginning, we wanted to make cancer products that everybody could afford,” Johnston says.
This vaccine could revolutionize canine health, significantly reducing the risk of cancer. And it may pave the way for cancer prevention in humans. The promise of a cancer-free future for our canine friends—and ourselves—inches closer to reality.
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