Abstract
While rodent cancer models are essential for early proof-of-concept and mechanistic studies for immune therapies, these models have limitations with regards to predicting the ultimate effectiveness of new immunotherapies in humans. As a unique spontaneous, large animal model of cancer, the value of conducting studies in pet dogs with cancer has been increasingly recognized by the research community. This review will therefore summarize key aspects of the dog cancer immunotherapy model and the role that these studies may play in the overall immunotherapy drug research effort. We will focus on cancer types and settings in which the dog model is most likely to impact clinical immuno-oncology research and drug development. Immunological reagent availability is discussed, along with some unique opportunities and challenges associated with the dog immunotherapy model. Overall it is hoped that this review will increase awareness of the dog cancer immunotherapy model and stimulate additional collaborative studies to benefit both man and man's best friend.
Highlights
Cancer immunotherapy continues to make remarkable strides in just the few years since the first checkpoint molecule targeted therapeutic antibodies were evaluated in trials and approved by the FDA
There is the sense by the author and colleagues in the veterinary immuneoncology community (Personal Communication, 2019) that the field of human immune-oncology is advancing so rapidly that new immunotherapy combinations are being evaluated before there is time to determine whether the combinations are truly effective, as judged by evidence of synergistic or additive antitumor activity in realistic animal models [1, 2]
The dog model may be uniquely valuable to address the following issues with respect to cancer immunotherapy: Can new cancer vaccines control advanced metastatic disease?; Can adoptive CAR T cell or NK cell therapy be both safe and active against solid tumors, and what is the safety profile?; How well do tumor microenvironment modifying agents work when combined with existing immunotherapies such as targeted drugs or checkpoint molecule antibodies?; Can checkpoint targeted therapeutics be effectively combined with other cancer treatment modalities to control or prevent tumor metastases? These examples are discussed in greater detail below
Summary
Flint Animal Cancer Center, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States. Large animal model of cancer, the value of conducting studies in pet dogs with cancer has been increasingly recognized by the research community. This review will summarize key aspects of the dog cancer immunotherapy model and the role that these studies may play in the overall immunotherapy drug research effort. Immunological reagent availability is discussed, along with some unique opportunities and challenges associated with the dog immunotherapy model. Overall it is hoped that this review will increase awareness of the dog cancer immunotherapy model and stimulate additional collaborative studies to benefit both man and man’s best friend
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