Exploring the Yale Vaccine: A New Hope for Canine Cancer Treatment

Posted by Pam Hidaka:

Last Tuesday, I participated in a live Zoom webinar hosted by the Canine Cancer Alliance. The session featured Professor Mark Mamula, an immunologist at Yale School of Medicine and founder of TheraJan LLC. He discussed the Canine EGFR/HER2 Peptide Cancer Immunotherapy, commonly referred to as the Yale vaccine. This promising treatment is currently in clinical trials across the country. Over 100 people joined the webinar, which lasted about two hours and included numerous questions from participants.

The Canine Cancer Alliance has funded Mamula’s work at Yale and the clinical trials since 2019. This webinar provided a fantastic opportunity to learn about a promising cancer therapy that could change the lives of many dogs.

Professor Mamula's Journey

Prof. Mamula is a Golden Retriever owner who lost one of his dogs to inoperable cardiac hemangiosarcoma 11 years ago. This personal experience sparked his interest in canine cancer treatments. He noted, “Dogs, just like humans, suffer greatly from their cancers. If we can provide some benefit, some relief, a pain-free life, that is the best outcome we could ever have.”

The statistics surrounding canine cancer are alarming. In the U.S., there are approximately 90 million dogs—more than the number of children under 18. One in four dogs will develop cancer in their lifetime. For dogs that reach the ages of 8 to 10 years, that number jumps to one in two.

Understanding Canine Cancer

Canine cancers tend to grow more rapidly than human cancers, but they are fundamentally similar. The EGFR/HER2 family of cancers is associated with poor prognosis, tumor growth, and metastasis. This category includes osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, transitional cell/bladder cancer, and cancers of the anal sac, squamous cell, thyroid, non-small cell lung, soft tissue sarcoma, breast, and colon. The current clinical trial primarily focuses on osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, and transitional cell/bladder cancer.

In an early case study, a dog with osteosarcoma that failed conventional chemotherapy and had metastasized to the lungs showed remarkable improvement. Eight months after receiving the Yale vaccine, the lung lesion resolved, and the dog survived an additional 3.5 years. Typically, with amputation and chemotherapy, only 30-40% of these dogs survive for 12 months. However, adding EGFR/HER2 therapy can double this survival time, with several dogs living for 5 to 6 years post-treatment.

Breakthroughs in Treatment

Adding EGFR/HER2 Yale vaccine therapy for hemangiosarcoma stages I, II, and III has significantly increased survival rates. It has doubled the mean survival time, which is typically one year with conventional therapy alone, especially for stages I and II. For Stage II, where cancer invades beyond the primary site, survival improved by over 200 days, with case studies showing survival of two years or more. Notably, using EGFR/HER2 therapy before surgical intervention also enhances outcomes.

Gilvetmab by Merck, primarily for mast cell tumors, is the first PD1 Checkpoint inhibitor for canine cancer. A clinical trial in the Seattle area at Bridge Animal Referral Center is using Gilvetmab in combination with carboplatin and the Yale vaccine. Mamula emphasized that combination therapy—using radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, Gilvetmab, and EGFR immunotherapy—is often more effective than single therapies.

Interestingly, Mamula mentioned a study at Washington State University that explored palliative radiation combined with the Yale vaccine. This option is particularly beneficial for dogs with osteosarcoma who cannot undergo amputation.

The Future of Canine Cancer Treatment

Ongoing clinical trials are approved through the end of 2026. By that time, Mamula anticipates that their USDA application for licensing will be active. As of 2024, the Yale vaccine has been administered to 300 dogs, and by December 2025, that number is expected to reach 600, with promising results. They have gathered substantial data to analyze potential differences in effectiveness based on breed, age, and other factors. However, there is currently no data on the preventative use of the Yale vaccine.

Regarding side effects, local injection site inflammation was observed in 20% of dogs, but there were no reported changes in appetite or energy levels.

Mamula expects their findings to be published soon.

Key Takeaways

Here are some key points from the webinar:

• Consult your veterinary oncologist for the best cancer care options.

• Combination therapy often yields better results than single therapies.

• Just like in human cancer care, not all cancers respond to the same treatment—tumors can be quite "smart."

  
  

Mark Mamula expressed gratitude to all the dog owners who refuse to accept the standard care and seek better options for their pets. He feels rewarded by hearing from patients who are thriving five years post-diagnosis. Many participants shared testimonials about their dogs' current good health after receiving the Yale vaccine and boosters. Hearing these success stories was incredibly uplifting!

For those interested in learning more, I encourage you to Get Your Free Immunotherapy Guide.

Get Your Free Immunotherapy Guide

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Check out other articles and videos

• Could This Combination Immunotherapy Help Dogs Beat Osteosarcoma (and other aggressive cancers)?

• Finding better, less toxic cancer treatments for dogs with a new genomic test?

• A New Promising Combination Immunotherapy Trial: Autologous Cancer Vaccine with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (K9-ACV + ICI)

  
  

If you have questions, feel free to email us at info@ccralliance. We’ll respond as soon as we can!

Canine Cancer Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting research for canine cancer cures.

All information on the Canine Cancer Alliance website is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional veterinary advice.

Always consult your veterinarian with any questions regarding your pet’s health and medical condition.