Immunology: Making Strides in Treating Cancer in Dogs

Osteosarcoma is the most common form of bone cancer in dogs. Highly metastatic, if located in a dog’s leg, it requires amputation and chemotherapy, which is only moderately effective. Building on technology he originally developed to treat melanoma in animals, Dr. Rowan Milner developed a vaccine to treat osteosarcoma in dogs. Rather than being administered to prevent a dog from developing cancer, it is given to a dog to treat cancer once it has developed. He discusses promising results from years of studies and what’s ahead to improve survival for dogs with this aggressive form of cancer.