Canine Osteosarcoma Immunotherapy Treatments

Mavis received the EGFR HER2 vaccine and palliative radiation treatment without amputation. She survived for 18 months (Photo from the Wag Love Life event where she joined the 5k Walk 12 months after diagnosis.)

For dogs diagnosed with osteosarcoma, even with standard-of-care amputation and chemotherapy, the median survival is typically less than 12 months. In many cases, the cancer spreads to the lungs, despite this aggressive treatment. We urgently need better ways to stop this disease.

Researchers today are focusing on ways to slow down and even reverse metastasis after surgery and chemotherapy.

(But even more transformative would be a treatment that allows the dog to keep their leg, avoid toxic chemotherapy, and still achieve a cure. This is especially important since many dogs are not candidates for surgery due to age, tumor location, or other health issues.)

For decades, researchers have recognized that the dog’s own immune system may hold the key to fighting osteosarcoma and other aggressive sarcomas. One of the earliest clues came from an unexpected source: dogs who developed post-surgical infections were found to live longer. These infections likely activated the immune system, suggesting that immune stimulation can help fight cancer.

That’s what makes immunotherapy so promising. Instead of directly trying to kill cancer cells, these treatments aim to mobilize the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. In some cases, they offer the potential for long-term survival and remission, thanks to activation of immune memory.

At a recent oncology conference, Dr. Nicola Mason, a leading researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, shared how immunotherapy is reshaping how we talk about this disease. For the first time, scientists and clinicians are beginning to use the word “cure” when discussing osteosarcoma.

When my dog Gus was fighting osteosarcoma, now almost ten years ago, there was only one immunotherapy option, and it had already stopped enrolling. It was devastating.

But today, things are very different.

There are many more treatment options available, including immunotherapies that have received conditional regulatory approval or are accessible through pilot clinical trials. Some are even fully approved by the FDA or USDA, and can be prescribed off-label by your veterinarian.

If your dog has been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, please know that you have more choices than ever before. Talk to your veterinarian about emerging therapies, especially immunotherapy. They may offer real hope and a better quality of life—for your dog.

Multi-Location Immunotherapy Trials and Treatments

1. ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI®)

(a) ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy for Canine Osteosarcoma 

What is it? ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI®) is a vaccine-enhanced adoptive T-cell therapy designed to train a dog’s own immune system to recognize and attack osteosarcoma cells after the primary tumor is removed. In a previous ELIAS osteosarcoma clinical trial, dogs received either ECI immunotherapy or carboplatin chemotherapy after surgery. Enrollment for that trial is now closed.

Status: Previous trial closed. ECI® is now distributed under a USDA autologous prescription product license.

Anything else?The earlier ELIAS trial required enrollment before amputation, meaning the affected limb had to still be intact before treatment began. Dogs completed a 7–11 week treatment regimen and returned for quarterly follow-up visits throughout the 18-month trial.

(b) ELIAS Combined Immunotherapy Study — University of Missouri

What is it? A new clinical study evaluating ELIAS’s vaccine-enhanced adoptive T-cell therapy combined with a novel adjuvant after surgery for large-breed dogs newly diagnosed with appendicular osteosarcoma. The goal is to assess the safety and efficacy of adding this new adjuvant to the ECI® immunotherapy approach after the primary tumor is removed.

Status: Now enrolling / currently conducting.

Location: Veterinary Health Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Treatment approach:Dogs undergo amputation or limb-sparing surgery to remove the primary tumor, followed by ECI® vaccine-enhanced adoptive T-cell therapy combined with the novel adjuvant. Patients must complete a 7–11 week protocol at the University of Missouri Veterinary School of Medicine and return for follow-up visits. Each dog will be monitored for 12 months after diagnosis.

Anything else?

The study is funded by grants from the Morris Animal Foundation and the Great Dane Club of America Charitable Trust. Great Dane owners may qualify for additional financial assistance through the Great Dane Club of America.

A review article by Prof Jeff Bryan includes the Elias immunotherapy Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Adding a single dose of carboplatin may change this curve.

2a. Yale Canine Cancer EGFR/HER2 Vaccine with Surgery

What is it? A vaccine that trains the immune system so that antibodies can target proteins (EGFR and HER2) that are abnormally over-expressed in many tumor cells. It has had success extending survival times and reversing metastasis in some canine patients.

Data: Early study data have been published for osteosarcoma patients. Preliminary hemangiosarcoma data shared at the Veterinary Cancers.  Society meeting. Data for metastatic cancer patients is not published.

Locations: The updated locations include Ventura, California (Hope Veterinary Oncology); Edmonds, Washington (Bridge Animal Referral Center); Pullman, Washington (Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital); Salt Lake City, Utah (MedVet Salt Lake City); Cleveland, Ohio (MedVet Cleveland); McMurray, Pennsylvania (MedVet Pittsburgh); Fairfax, Ohio (MedVet Cincinnati); Phoenix, Arizona (IVO Integrative Veterinary Oncology); Chicago, Illinois (MedVet Chicago — currently not enrolling); Richmond, Virginia (Partner Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center); Stamford, Connecticut (Veterinary Cancer Concierge Services); and Columbia, Missouri (University of Missouri — new location).

Anything else? Therajan LLC is commercializing the vaccine.

More information: Read the FAQ here.

2b. Without Surgery - EGFR/HER2 Vaccine + Palliative Radiation

What is it? For patients who are not candidates for surgery, palliative radiation (2 fractions, eight gray) + EGFR/HER2 vaccination + zoledronate infusion has shown promising outcomes with a small number of patients (ref: VCS meeting 2024)

Data: Median survival time of almost 12 months without surgery, with 11 canine patients. Data from Washington State University study.

Locations:  The updated locations include Ventura, California (Hope Veterinary Oncology); Edmonds, Washington (Bridge Animal Referral Center); Pullman, Washington (Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital); Salt Lake City, Utah (MedVet Salt Lake City); Cleveland, Ohio (MedVet Cleveland); McMurray, Pennsylvania (MedVet Pittsburgh); Fairfax, Ohio (MedVet Cincinnati); Phoenix, Arizona (IVO Integrative Veterinary Oncology); Chicago, Illinois (MedVet Chicago — currently not enrolling); Richmond, Virginia (Partner Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center); Stamford, Connecticut (Veterinary Cancer Concierge Services); and Columbia, Missouri (University of Missouri — new location).

Please contact the clinic to find out if a patient receiving palliative radiation (without surgery) can enroll. WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital is still enrolling patients.

Anything else? Note that this is using palliative radiation, not stereotactic radiation. Palliative radiation may stimulate the immune system without triggering immune suppression that might result from more aggressive radiation therapy. The study into the mechanism of action is ongoing but the hypothesized mechanism of action includes in-situ vaccination (radiation kills cancer cells in a way that releases tumor antigens and educates the immune system).  

More information: https://ccralliance.myflodesk.com/egfr-faq

3. Immunocidin

What is it? A drug that effectively stimulates the immune system with active ingredients consisting of non-pathogenic bacterial cell wall fraction and nucleic acid.

Data: A small published study with osteosarcoma patients.

Contact: (613) 308-9788 or info@NovaVive.ca

Locations: Anywhere in North America. Contact Novavive about other countries.

Anything else? Fully approved by USDA. It was initially approved for mammary tumors; however, off-label use for other types of cancer, including osteosarcoma, is possible. Several successful case studies have been reported. For example, we recently interviewed a family with a dog with osteosarcoma who is 12 months post-diagnosis, with the help of chemotherapy and Immunocidin (but no surgery).

Contact Novavive and speak with Dr. Miriam Cervantes if you'd like to learn about their osteosarcoma protocol and study. Immunocidin will be donated if your dog is enrolled in the study. A vet can also order Immunocidin without being part of a clinical trial.

More information: https://www.novavive.ca/canine-research

Check out our summary of Immunocidin here.

4. Torigen Vaccine:

What is it? An autologous cancer vaccine created from the dog’s own tumor cells, developed by Torigen. This personalized immunotherapy aims to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer using the dog’s unique tumor antigens.

Torigen now offers the VimClara kit, the first-ever autologous cancer vaccine kit, allowing veterinarians to create a personalized vaccine directly from a patient’s tumor tissue.

Data: None specifically for osteosarcoma patients. Some published results for metastatic hemangiosarcoma but we have not seen any data specifically for osteosarcoma patients.

Contact: 860-519-9956 or https://www.torigen.com/contact-us

Location: Anywhere in the US. Make sure to contact them before surgery.

Anything else? This option is only possible if you coordinate BEFORE surgery.

More information: https://www.torigen.com/

5. Oral Drug Combination: Propranolol, Losartan, Toceranib

What is it? A combination of repurposed drugs, high-dose losartan, propranolol, and Palladia ( or toceranib) may counter immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment.

Data: Several publications including https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9835010/ and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8866227/ Prof Dow's paper describes a glioma study, but the same strategy may also help osteosarcoma patients.

Contact: Ask your oncologist. A vet can order these drugs. Does not require being in a clinical trial.

Location: Anywhere in the US.

Anything else? In his fascinating talk at the Veterinary Cancer Society meeting in 2022, Prof Steven Dow stressed that one drug on its own does not have an impact - but combined together in double or triple combinations, one sees benefits with metastatic osteosarcoma. Also, the combination may synergize with other immunostimulatory therapies such as cancer vaccines. At Tufts University, Prof Cheryl London has been studying the combination of Losartan, Toceranib, and another drug called Ladarixin, which can collectively remove immune-suppressive cells from the tumor microenvironment. Ladarixin is only available to canine patients who participate in location-specific trials.

6. ARDENT Animal Health Autologous Vaccine: PAUSED

What is it? Autologous vaccine K9‑ACV created from the dog’s own tumor cells.

Data: None specifically for osteosarcoma. But this paper by Yannelli et al. describes their early study.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27863558/

Contact: https://ardentanimalhealth.com/contact-us/

Locations: Anywhere in the US, IMPORTANT: Make arrangements BEFORE surgery.

More information: http://ardentanimalhealth.com/canine-cancer/

7. ARDENT Autologous Cancer Vaccine with Checkpoint Inhibitor for Treatment of Canine Osteosarcoma: RECRUITMENT COMPLETE

What is it? This trial evaluates the safety and potential improved survival using an autologous killed tumor-cell vaccine (K9‑ACV) combined with a checkpoint inhibitor (CD200AR-L) compared to standard carboplatin chemotherapy after amputation. This is a randomized trial. Adding an immune checkpoint inhibitor may increase the efficacy of the autologous vaccine, as seen in an earlier trial with canine glioma patients.

Primary Study Location: University of Illinois

Secondary Study Locations: Maine Veterinary Medical Center, University of Wisconsin, BluePearl Lafayette, BluePearl Tacoma, BluePearl Pittsburgh, Veterinary Cancer Group of Orange County, South Carolina Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Care, CARE Center Cincinnati, Metropolitan Vet Hospital, Peak Veterinary Referral Center, Colorado Animal Specialty and Emergency, VSH North County, Mission Veterinary ER and Specialty, Massachusetts Vet Referral, Metropolitan Vet Hospital Cleveland, Southeast Veterinary Oncology & Internal Medicine

Contact:

• Study Contact Name: Adrienne Wright

• Study Contact Email: adrienne@ardentanimalhealth.com

• Study Contact Phone: +18596195893

More information:

• https://veterinaryclinicaltrials.org/study/VCT25005864

• https://ardentanimalhealth.com/clinical-trials/

8. Cell Therapy for Metastatic Osteosarcoma

What is it? This trial is a phase I interventional study infusing donor-derived CAR‑modified invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells targeting metastatic osteosarcoma to assess safety, dosing, persistence, and preliminary efficacy.

Location: University of Pennsylvania Ryan Veterinary Hospital (plus affiliated centers in CA, TN, VA, WA)

Contact:

• Study Contact Name: Nicola Mason

• Study Contact Email: nmason@vet.upenn.edu

• Study Contact Phone: +12158983996

More information: https://veterinaryclinicaltrials.org/study/VCT24005853

SINGLE-LOCATION CLINICAL TRIALS.

For the most up-to-date list of studies, search the AVMA animal health studies database:

Clinical, Molecular, and Immune Characterization of Naturally Occurring Osteosarcoma (COTC034)

What is it? This Tufts University study is investigating the natural biology and immune response of dogs with newly diagnosed appendicular osteosarcoma following amputation alone. Researchers will follow dogs after surgery to determine if and when metastasis develops while analyzing tumor tissue and serial blood samples to better understand the molecular and immune characteristics of osteosarcoma.

Type of study: Biological, molecular, and immune-characterization study. This is not an immunotherapy treatment trial. Dogs enrolled in the study undergo amputation but do not receive chemotherapy or another experimental osteosarcoma treatment as part of the protocol.

Location: Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Massachusetts.

Enrollment criteria: Dogs must have newly diagnosed appendicular osteosarcoma affecting a long bone of the limb, weigh at least 25 kg, be considered good candidates for amputation, and have no evidence of metastasis based on staging. Dogs must have a favorable performance status and adequate blood and organ function. Previous chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, or bisphosphonate treatment for osteosarcoma is not allowed.

Data: Researchers collect the tumor following amputation as well as blood samples over time to study changes in the immune system and better characterize how osteosarcoma progresses and metastasizes without chemotherapy.

Anything else? Dogs return for follow-up examinations, bloodwork, and study blood collection on Days 21, 63, and 105 after surgery, followed by visits every eight weeks. Dogs that die while enrolled must undergo a full post-mortem examination (necropsy).

Contact: Tufts Clinical Trials Office: clinicaltrials@tufts.edu

More information: Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine — COTC034 clinical trial page.

Treating osteosarcoma lung lesions with intravenous small molecule immunotherapy

What is it? A University of Illinois clinical trial evaluating Z-007, an intravenous small-molecule immunotherapy for dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma that has spread to the lungs. Dogs may receive up to eight weekly IV treatments.

Type of immunotherapy: Intravenous small-molecule immunotherapy intended to stimulate an immune response against osteosarcoma lung metastases.

Location: University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Urbana, Illinois.

Enrollment criteria: Dogs must have a confirmed historical or active diagnosis of appendicular osteosarcoma, pulmonary nodules measuring at least 5 mm on CT, controlled primary tumor pain if not amputated, good overall health, and an expected survival of at least 9 weeks. Dogs must not have received radiation within 1 week or chemotherapy/immunotherapy within 3 weeks.

Anything else? This is a fully funded trial after eligibility is established. Owners are responsible for the initial exam and diagnostics required to determine eligibility.

Contact: University of Illinois Clinical Trials Team: 217-333-5300Clinical Trials Coordinator Rebecca Kamerer: 217-300-6453 | rmoss81@illinois.edu

More information: https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Appendicular-osteosarcoma-pulmonary.pdf

Purdue University Immunotherapy / Immune-Based Studies: ENROLLMENT CLOSED

What is it? A Purdue University clinical trial evaluating a new cancer vaccine designed to train the immune system to recognize Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1), a protein cancer cells use to suppress immune attack. By targeting PD-L1, the vaccine is intended to interfere with the PD-L1 immune “brake” pathway and help the immune system recognize and kill cancer cells. Purdue describes this as an immune checkpoint inhibitor strategy.

Type of immunotherapy: Cancer vaccine targeting PD-L1 / immune checkpoint pathway. It is not described as chemotherapy. Purdue states that enrolled dogs receive three intramuscular vaccine treatments at a dose previously determined to be safe and immune-stimulating in healthy laboratory dogs.

Location: Purdue University Veterinary Hospital / Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center, West Lafayette, Indiana.

Enrollment criteria: Dogs may be eligible if they are at least 1 year old, weigh more than 8 kg / about 18 lb, have a confirmed diagnosis of one of several cancers including osteosarcoma, and have a tumor accessible for biopsy. Dogs must also be healthy enough for sedation or anesthesia and expected to live at least 9 weeks without treatment.

Anything else? This is not osteosarcoma-only; osteosarcoma is one of several eligible tumor types. Purdue states there are no placebos in the study.

Functional Imaging of Osteosarcoma to Improve Assessment of Immunotherapy Efficacy

Trial Status: Actively Recruiting

What is it? This study uses advanced imaging methods, including dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (DCE-CT) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), to study osteosarcoma tumors before amputation. The goal is to better understand tumor biology, blood flow, metabolism, and immune activity so researchers can eventually predict whether a dog may benefit from immune-targeting therapies.

Data:No treatment outcome data yet. This is an imaging and immune-characterization study intended to support future personalized immunotherapy decisions.

Locations:Purdue University.

Contact:Dr. Michael Childress: 765-494-1107Clinical Trial Nurses Lindsey Fourez or Araynna Holland: 765-494-1130 or 765-496-5966

More information:

Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine / Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center osteosarcoma trials page.

Electrochemotherapy for Bone Cancer

What is it? This study evaluates the use of electrochemotherapy (ECT) as a local treatment for bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in dogs, particularly when the cancer has spread to bone tissue.  In addition to killing tumor cells, ECT may stimulate the immune system to attack cancer.

Locations: Veterinary Oncology Services, New York City

Contact:

• Study Contact Name: Dr. J Impellizeri DVM, DACVIM, MRCVS

• Study Contact Email: oncologyvet@gmail.com

• Study Contact Phone: +18452052768

More information: https://veterinaryclinicaltrials.org/study/VCT24005858

Cryoablation with Immunotherapy (STING AGONISt)

Johns Hopkins University

What is it? Cryoablation combined with immunotherapy (STING AGONIST)

Anything else? This study may be paused.

Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

CContact: cigat@jhmi.edu

More details can be read here.

Metastatic Osteosarcoma Clinical Trial in Dogs NO LONGER ACTIVE

Johns Hopkins University

What is it? This trial evaluates the safety of an experimental radiotherapy approach for treating dogs with osteosarcoma that has metastasized beyond the original tumor site. Eligible dogs should have already undergone amputation and chemotherapy, but now show evidence of cancer spread to other organs.

Locations: John Hopkins University

Contact:

• The Center for Image-Guided Animal Therapy

• Johns Hopkins University

• Dr. Dara Kraitchman, VMD, PhD

• Email: cigat@jhmi.edu

• Telephone: 410-502-7325

More information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jSDg3OPNUy-Xj-wNDapc6YE1gqurzD6-/view?usp=sharing

STING Agonist Therapy NO LONGER ACTIVE

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

What is it? Evaluate the safety and activity of a STING agonist compound to stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells in dogs with solid tumors

Data: None yet

Contact: June Chiango, jchiango@upenn.edu

More information: https://www.vet.upenn.edu/research/clinical-trials-vcic/all-clinical-trials

Oncolytic virotherapy combined with dual checkpoint blockade for patients with metastatic osteosarcoma

University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

What is it? This treatment combines oncolytic virotherapy combined with dual checkpoint blockade for patients with metastatic osteosarcoma. This trial is evaluating a new combination therapy using a genetically modified Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV-IFNß-NIS, or "VSV") plus a new molecule that increases anti-tumor immunity, called onco-immune accelerator or "ONIx". Dogs will not receive additional chemotherapy while they are enrolled in the study, but they will be eligible to add chemotherapy or pursue other treatments if their tumors grow and cause signs of illness while on the METEOR protocol.

Data: None yet

Contact: Andrea Chehadeh, aleckert@umn.edu

More information:https://vetmed.umn.edu/departments/centers-and-programs/clinical-investigation-center/current-clinical-trials/meteor-dogs

CAR T cell Immunotherapy for Treatment of Metastatic Osteosarcoma in Dogs

Colorado State University

What is it?

• This trial investigates the safety and potential effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy in dogs with osteosarcoma that has visibly spread to the lungs (macroscopic metastases). CAR T cells are specially engineered immune cells designed to recognize and kill cancer cells. While CAR T therapy has been used safely in dogs at other institutions, this particular formulation has only been tested in healthy dogs so far, with no adverse effects reported.

• This study is fully funded, and all treatment-related costs are covered for enrolled dogs.

Locations: Colorado State University Flint Animal Cancer Center, Fort Collins, CO

Contact:

• Study Contact Name: CSU Oncology Clinical Trials

• Study Contact Email: csuoncologytrials@colostate.edu

• Study Contact Phone: +19702974001

More Info: https://veterinaryclinicaltrials.org/study/VCT23005734

GD3 Vaccine

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

What is it? Vaccine treatment that contains ganglioside (GD3)

Data: None yet

Contact: Contact the Oncology Staff at (352) 392-2235 to schedule an evaluation, or complete the Study Interest Form on their website to see if your dog qualifies.

More information: https://research.vetmed.ufl.edu/clinical-trials/small-animal/vaccine-study-for-dogs-with-osteosarcoma/

Anything else? The vaccine will be given over 6 visits approximately 3 weeks apart in addition to 6 chemotherapy visits. If appropriate your dog will also receive boosters every 6 months. The chemotherapy visits will be scheduled 2 weeks prior to each vaccine visit. At each visit, blood will also be drawn to measure the immune response for study purposes. In a previous study with over 300 dogs with melanoma, this vaccine was shown to help extend survival.

mRNA Nanoparticle Vaccine

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

What is it? mRNA nanoparticle vaccine for dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma

Data: None

Contact: Contact the Oncology Staff at (352) 392-2235 to schedule an evaluation, or complete the Study Interest Form on their website to see if your dog qualifies.

More information: https://research.vetmed.ufl.edu/clinical-trials/small-animal/mrna-vaccine-study-for-dogs-with-appendicular-osteosarcoma-currently-enrolling/

Anything else? RNA Study Vaccine administration will take place by an IV infusion over approximately 30 minutes. After the first vaccine, your dog will be monitored in the hospital for 24 hours post vaccine. Your dog will also have routine bloodwork checked at each visit, and chest x-rays, as well as abdominal ultrasound to track disease progression. Additional blood samples will be collected to monitor immune response to the vaccine as well.

Cost: The client is responsible for the cost of “standard of care” treatment of canine osteosarcoma (initial evaluation and diagnostics, surgery, chemotherapy, and all chemotherapy-related costs).

Histotripsy Focused Ultrasound Therapy

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

What is it? Histotripsy for dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma (non-amputation option)

Data: None

Contact: To see if your dog qualifies, email vettrials@vt.edu or call the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at (540) 231-4621.

More information: https://research.vetmed.vt.edu/clinical-trials/current-studies/histotripsy-osteo-no-amputation.html

Anything else? This study evaluates a non-invasive treatment option using histotripsy—focused ultrasound technology that destroys tumor tissue without surgery. Participating dogs will not undergo limb amputation and will be monitored closely with imaging and follow-up appointments to evaluate their response to treatment. The study is seeking dogs diagnosed with osteosarcoma that meet eligibility criteria and have not had the affected limb amputated.

Cost: Costs of study-related procedures are covered. Owners may be responsible for some routine diagnostic and follow-up care costs.

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If you come across or know of other immunotherapy clinical trials accepting osteosarcoma patients, or if you have any questions, please reach us at info@ccralliance.org

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IMPORTANT:

This blog is published for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always seek guidance from your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding your pet’s health or medical condition.