Susanna Fletcher Greer, Chief Scientific Officer at the V Foundation, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“When we talk about breakthroughs in cancer treatment, we usually picture clinical trials in humans. But what if man’s best friend holds some of the most important clues to curing cancer for both species?
Dr. Robert Canter and his team at University of California, Davis with support from the the V Foundation, are exploring just that. Their latest study dives deep into how natural killer cells, our immune system’s rapid-response soldiers, behave inside tumors in both humans and dogs.
Natural killer cells are remarkable. They can spot and destroy cancer cells without needing the immune “training” that T cells require. They have already made a difference for patients with blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. But in solid tumors, these cells often get confused or worn down, like firefighters arriving at a blaze only to find their hoses tangled and the hydrants dry.
Dr. Canter’s team used cutting-edge single-cell sequencing to study natural killer cells from dogs with naturally occurring sarcomas, cancers that closely resemble those in humans. They compared these canine immune cells to those found in healthy tissues and in human cancers. What they found was striking. Natural killer cells that make their way into tumors show both signs of exhaustion and overactivity, behaving much like those seen in people.
Even more exciting, the team studied dogs participating in “first-in-dog” immunotherapy trials, essentially the canine version of early-phase human trials. Dogs who responded best to treatment showed increases in natural killer cell activity after therapy, along with gene patterns that predict stronger immune responses. In other words, when these immune soldiers get the right kind of boost, they fight harder and smarter.
This research is about more than helping pets live longer, though that is certainly part of it. It is about building a bridge between veterinary and human oncology. By studying dogs who develop cancers naturally in the context of an intact immune system, scientists can learn how to make immunotherapies more effective in humans, especially for tough-to-treat solid tumors.
The message is clear to me: the biology of cancer, and the promise of curing it, transcends species. Our dogs may not just be our companions; they may also be our collaborators in the fight against cancer.
At the V Foundation, we invest in innovative research that accelerates discoveries for patients, human and animal alike. Comparative oncology gives us a remarkable opportunity to learn faster, test smarter, and bring better therapies to those who need them most. Studies like Dr. Canter’s remind us that every patient matters and that the path to Victory Over Cancer is one we walk, and sometimes wag, together.”
More posts featuring Susanna Fletcher Greer.