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Inhaled immunotherapy shows promise for canine lung cancer
The study used interleukin-15 to reinvigorate the immune system.

Research could also have benefits for humans with the disease. 

US researchers have discovered that a protein naturally produced by the body could become a vital new immunotherapy drug in the fight against cancer.

Scientists at UC Davis and other institutions conducted a trial on 21 dogs with metastatic lung disease from osteosarcoma and melanoma. For 14 days, the dogs inhaled a mist containing interleukin-15 (IL-15) - a protein previously recognised for its immunotherapy properties.

The results, published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, show that amplified concentrations of IL-15 can stimulate immune system defenses against some types of cancers in dogs. 

“No one previously had administered IL-15 as an inhaled treatment in dogs to deliver it directly to the site of the cancer,” explained Dr Rober Canter, a surgical oncologist at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We came up with that idea as a means of reducing exposure to the rest of the body, in order to improve the benefit-risk ratio, to improve the immune stimulating effects, and to reduce toxicity.”

“In this study, we used interleukin-15 to reinvigorate the immune system to make it recognize the cancer cells that had evaded the immune system and eliminate them.”

In the first-of-its-kind trial, the dogs began to show significant responses to the protein two weeks after they begain inhaling the mist. 

In two dogs, tumours shrank dramatically – including one that went into complete remission for more than a year. Furthermore, cancer that had been growing rapidly in five other dogs stabilised for several months - with the overall response rate being close to 40 per cent.

While more research is yet to be carried out, the team hopes that its findings will also benefit humans with advanced metastatic cancer.

“As part of our comparative oncology research, we are strong advocates of clinical trials in companion dogs, especially for immunotherapy, as a way to speed bench-to-bedside translation,” added Dr Canter. “The cancers that afflict dogs, including sarcomas, brain tumors, lymphoma and melanoma, are incredibly similar to cancers that humans develop.” 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.