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Dr. Nicola Mason Bone Cancer Vaccine update
It is now over 16 months since the first dog diagnosed with spontaneous
Osteosarcoma received an experimental bone cancer vaccine at the University
of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. The vaccine is being
administered to pet dogs that have been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, an
aggressive tumor that affects the long bones of large and giant breed dogs.
With current standard of care, that consists of amputation and follow up
chemotherapy, median survival times are between 200 and 300 days. The aim
of the vaccine, given to dogs after amputation and chemotherapy, is to
prevent metastatic disease and prolong overall survival. Of the first 5
dogs vaccinated in this clinical trial, 4 of the dogs are still alive and
have survived between 500 and 590 days; three of these dogs are tumor free.
Other dogs have been vaccinated more recently so long term survival data
for these dogs is not yet available. “These results are really very
exciting” Dr. Nicola Mason, the lead investigator on the trial explains.
“They suggest that the vaccine is able to stimulate an effective anti-tumor
immune response that is able to kill microscopic metastatic cells and
prevent tumor recurrence in these dogs.” Importantly, the vaccine appears
to be safe. Only low-grade toxicities consisting of a mild fever and
occasionally one episode of vomiting the same day as vaccination have been
reported. There have been no long or short-term complications observed with
the vaccine. The results are highly promising and a larger phase II
clinical trial is now being planned at Penn and at collaborating sites
including Colorado State University and the University of Florida.
If you would like to learn more about the clinical trial and are interested
in enrolling your patient or your own dog, please contact Dr. Nicola Mason,
BVetMed, PhD, DACVIM at 215 898 3996 or by e-mail at nmason@vet.upenn.edu.
hmmmm I wonder if they'd want to test it out on a CAT!?
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Wow, that is exciting! I'm in Canada, but will inquire about this, and post what I find out
ilse
That is very exciting news. Thanks for posting!
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
So I wrote to Dr. Mason, just thought I'd throw it out there to see if she wanted a kitty in the study! Well, darn, it's a no go, but here's her explanation:
Dear Erica,
Thank you for your e-mail - poor Jill! I went to her website and took a look! She is superb - and very funny! Indeed, OSA is very unusual in cats and unfortunately at this time, we are not doing any work with the vaccine in cats - I would very much like to try it one day - however, I am not sure I would like to try it on Jill - cats are quite different than dogs and have a few differences particularly in their ability to metabolize certain drugs etc - I think one day, if we move in the feline direction I would likely try vaccinating a patient that has no other options, just in case there is an adverse response - Jill seems to be doing very well and although the disease did met once, I think if she were mine I would probably not try anything experimental in her when she is doing so well - very interesting thought though -
BTW I know Dr. Hohenhaus at AMC and she is fabulous - Jill is in excellent hands there!
best wishes
nicola
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Thanks for posting this. I have heard of the vaccine but these are the first trial results that I have seen and it does seem promising. Hopefully other vet schools or oncologists will soon be able to get the vaccine so more dogs may benefit!
Pam
If anyone can travel to U Penn for vaccine ... I would, but it's just not possible for me to take Blumi there, it looks very, very interesting.
They are still enrolling tripawds (should have had their last carboplatin about 3 weeks ago). Some details at http://www.vet......cal-trials
They are doing something similar here at Auburn University. It's a hepatitis vaccine from what I understand and they combine it with the dogs DNA. My Chance would have been a perfect candidate, but unfortunately we did a dose of radiation before the amputation which ruled him out for the trial. Would have been nice if they told us that BEFORE we did the radiation and amputated a week later!
Chance is a 10ish Shetland Sheepdog Mix who was rescued from the shelter in January of 2013 and diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in September of 2013. He had a front left amputation and 6 rounds of carboplatin. He had a great 11 months and was diagnosed with lung mets on 8/23/14. He was released to the bridge on 8/28/14.
Did you know that our community's very own Bentley is participating in this study? Read his blog posts about it to see how he's doing:
First Trip to PA, Not What We Had Hoped For
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I wrote her!!!!! I live 2 hours from there. I could not, not try. I don't think they will take him because of his issues and not doing Chemo, but how could I not at least reach out. My oldest Daughter graduated from UPenn. Not the vet program though. My youngest lives probably a half hour or 45 min. From there. We will see. Probably a big aft NO, but I will have tried.
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
I just emailed Dr. Mason to see if Shilo is a candidate. From the Eligibility part Shilo is a shoe in 🙂 Not amputated, no mets. I hope the very early stage and the OS in the shoulder is not a disqualifying issue.
Philly is less than 2 hours away!!
With any luck St. Roch and St. Francis will give Shilo some good news.
Awesome I hope she makes it in!!!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I wrote her back in Nov 2013, and here's her response:
"Dear Katy, I am sorry to hear about Jackson but very pleased to hear that he is doing so well! Unfortunately our entry criteria for the trial are quite strict at this time and include patients with a histopathological diagnosis of OSA, amputation, 4 doses of carboplatin and then vaccination immediately after chemo, so currently he does not qualify for the current trial. I am however trying very hard to expand the criteria as soon as possible to include other patients and am looking into ways to try to make this happen. I am not sure how long this may take but I would keep an eye on the penn vet facebook page and I will be sure to post an update there and contact you directly if the entry criteria change and he becomes a candidate. Thank you so much again for your e-mail and I very much hope that Jackson continues to do well."
Nice lady, huh? I should send her a follow up and see if things have changed....
On a side note, I am Friends with the Penn Vet Facebook page and have enjoyed watching the new mother-colt relationship!
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
I spoke with an assistant from the school today and it seemed like, at the least, Shilo's information will get seen by the people that qualify dogs for the study. I hope Shilo get accepted so she can do her part to help others.
Sadly, her fate is sealed, I know I will love that dog to the end, but if her passing could help others... even my next dog if they ever get OS, then that would make her leaving me a little more bearable.
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