Vaccine for Canine Oral Melanoma

A type of cancer occurring in common pigmented (dark) skin dogs is canine melanoma.1 The cancer arises from the pigment producing cells called melanocytes or melanoblasts.2 Melanocytes cells found in the bottom layer of the skin's epidermis and in the middle layer of the eye. 3 Canine melanoma detected in mouth, toes, and behind the eye likely to spread, compared to tumors detected on the skin, generally benign (growth not cancerous and does not spread to other parts of the body). 4 Most common breeds of dogs diagnosed with canine melanoma: Standard and Miniature Schnauzers, Gordon Setters, Scottish terriers, and Doberman Pinschers, likely hereditary linked. 1 Symptoms of Canine Melanoma: Trouble swallowing, skin lesions noticeable odd colored and shaped, visible tumors, drooling, loss of appetite, weight loss, and bad breath. A veterinarian confirms diagnosis canine melanoma by physical examination, chest X-ray, blood work and biopsy. Treatment options include: Surgery (remove of the tumor or as much as possible), radiation (reduce tumor size), Chemotherapy (medication administered) and / or combination treatment options. Unfortunately the prognosis is poor but worse when canine oral melanoma and cancer located in the toes and behind the eyes. 4 Also, after surgery frequently prognosis is deadly: Melanoma tends to spread to the lungs, eventually cause of lung failure. 9 Thirty to forty percent of malignant canine cancers (spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body) are oral malignant melanoma; common in older, smaller, male dogs, besides Labrador retrievers, cocker spaniels and other large breeds. Treating canine oral melanoma includes surgery, and radiation. Unfortunately, surgery does not always remove entire cancerous cells, requiring additional treatment including chemotherapy. "The median survival time for dogs with oral melanoma is 8 months after diagnosis." 5

Jedd Wolchok, MD, Ph.D., at Memorial Sloan - Kettering Cancer Center in New York City led by collaboration with Phillip Bergman, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM (Oncology) at the Animal Medical Center in New York; Ongoing research to discover a vaccine to treat oral melanoma. Dr. Bergman contacted Merial (World's leading animal health company 6) extend the research to refine a vaccine. "Merial Limited is a joint venture between Merck & Co. and sanofi-aventis." In 2006, Merial reported sales nearly $2.2 billion. In March 2007, U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the conditional therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of oral melanoma cancer -- "in either animals or humans." Initially the vaccine will be available for use by specialists practicing veterinary oncology. 7 "That novel vaccine used DNA and dogs given the vaccine created antibodies against the proteins coded for the DNA. This effectively created antibodies against the cancer as well." 11 According to one expert, melanoma is thirty-five times more common in dogs than in people. 10 According to the conditional licensing, Merial research must provide supporting evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Pet owners of dogs diagnosed having oral melanoma, may want to contact their veterinarian for further information regarding this trial treatment option. Bob Menardi, DVM, a veterinarian and spokesman for Merial said: "Melanoma spreads readily, and unfortunately is often resistant to chemotherapy". During initial vaccine melanoma study, many dogs survived on average 389 days. The vaccination administered via a new Canine Transdermal Device (delivers the vaccine without use of needle), developed in conjunction with Bioject (Portland research pharmaceutical device company.) 7

Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, Ph.D, an oncologist on the Clinical Immunology Services at Memorial Sloan - Kettering said: "By conducting trials in human and in animals that live in the same surroundings as humans, there can be a synergy that we hope will result in improved cancer treatment for all." 7

Canine Melanoma Vaccine by Merial applicable to treatable stage two (Cancer spread to the lower part of the inner layer of skin (dermis)) 14) or stage three (Cancer spread to the lymph nodes 15) oral canine melanomas.13 The vaccine administered: One 0.4 ml dosage every two weeks for a total of four doses. 812 Afterwards, one booster dose administered every six months. 8 Regardless as to the size of the dog, the dosage remains the same. The (package) four -- vital packet sold to practitioners for $1,000. Markup price (profit margin) determine by the each practitioner. 12 Dr. Bob Nordgren, Ph.D., vice president of biologics research, development and technology acquisitions for Merial said: "the vaccine has yet to be formally named", because current licensing is conditional. After successful trial study of the vaccine, Merial evaluate breeds of dogs likely develop canine melanoma and direct a preventive vaccine treatment option. Tim Leard, DVM, Ph.D., director of biologics research and development at Merial said: "The development of this vaccine may offer oncologists a new option for treating canine melanoma patients". Further information call: 888 - 637 - 4251, option 3. 8

In 2006, according to Rowan Milner, D.V.M., chief of the UF Veterinary Medical Center's oncology service, three vaccine studies being evaluated for the treatment of oral canine melanoma, including vaccine being studied by Merial. Dr. Milner said: "The melanoma vaccine would never be a replacement for surgery or radiation, because the local disease still has to be treated. There is a broad front of research and once we find out which one is really going to work, the others may fall by the wayside, or may find that each vaccine targets specific subgroups of melanoma. Time will tell." 9

In 2007, University of Florida seeking dogs diagnosed having melanoma, participate in an ongoing study for new vaccine, treat the spread of melanoma or skin cancer. 9

References:

1) Melanoma - http://www.modianolab.org/cancer/cancer_melanoma.shtml

2) Disease Information - MELANOMA - http://ccr.nci.nih.gov/resources/cop/melanoma.asp

3) Melanocyte - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanocyte

4.) How to Treat Canine Melanoma - http://www.howtodothings.com/pets-and-animals/a3298-how-to-treat-canine-melanoma.html

5.) Oral Melanoma - http://www.angio.org/pets_and_wildlife/pet/canine_cancer/oralMelanoma.html

6.) Canine Melanoma Vaccine -

http://www.amcny.org/technology/melanomavaccine.aspx

7.) USDA Grants Conditional Approval for First Therapeutic Vaccine Treat Cancer - Merial New Vaccine Treats Deadly Cancer in Dogs - http://www.amcny.org/technology/melanomavaccine.aspx

8.) Canine Melanoma Vaccine Gets Conditional OK - http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-dept/canine-practice/canine-melanoma-vaccine-gets-conditional-ok.aspx

9.) UF veterinarians seek dogs with melanoma to participate in new vaccine study - http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/pr/nw_story/MelanomaVaccineStudy.htm

10.) New Vaccine for Canine Skin Cancer is Good Tidings - http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8714084641675583330/posts/default/7114838039870963206

11.) Video - Vaccine for Serious Canine Cancer Nears Reality - http://www.pendleton-gazette.com/julies_corner_11042007.htm

12.) New Vaccine is promising - http://www.austin360.com/featr/content/shared/living/pets/Rx/RX062507.html

13.) Is there a Vaccine for Dog Cancer? -

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/is-there-a-vaccine-for-dog-cancer/page1.aspx

14.) Stage II Melanoma Overview - http://patient.cancerconsultants.com/CancerTreatment_Melanoma.aspx?DocumentId=825

15.) Stage III Melanoma Overview - http://patient.cancerconsultants.com/CancerTreatment_Melanoma.aspx?DocumentId=826