Jeffrey N. Bryan, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVIM, discusses the need for a new treatment option for dogs with osteosarcoma in a dvm360 interview.

Considering treatment options with canine osteosarcoma

Treatment of canine osteosarcoma is advancing with recently released data showing enhanced outcomes for patients with a combination of chemotherapy and ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI). In a 

2025 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum 

in Louisville, Kentucky, Jeffrey N Bryan, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVIM, professor of oncology and associate director of the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri and principal investigator for the pilot trial for ECI, discussed current treatment options for bone cancer in dogs and how science and technology are providing new avenues of care, such as ECI.

New data for novel bone cancer therapy demonstrates improved outcomes

The following is a transcript of the video:

: Osteosarcoma is a primary cancer of bone, and unlike most cancers that are not terribly painful, it is extremely painful. So the patients that come to us, we talk about having problems of life and limb and the limb part really is pain and severe life limiting discomfort. So removal of that tumor, either by surgery on the tumor itself, or amputation or using radiation to control it, becomes primary in managing the limb part of it. However, the majority of these patients, when they present, will already have microscopic spread of their tumor elsewhere in their body, particularly to their lungs, and that is what really limits their survival, their life.

If we only amputate dogs, half of them will be gone in the first few months after amputation, which is a terrible outcome, and the rest of them will almost certainly be gone long before a year happens if we add chemotherapy to amputation, they live two to three times longer than if they have amputation alone, based on the published literature. And so now, adding a dose of chemotherapy while we wait to start the immunotherapy, and having survivals that are well out over a year in this group of dogs, as well as more than half of them being alive at the 1 year mark, appears to be a very substantial advance forward. The fact that this is a well-tolerated treatment that invokes the dog's own immune system to try to control the disease long term is a substantial advancement over what we have had in the past to treat these patients.

Videos

Jeffrey N. Bryan, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVIM, discusses current methods and the need for advancement in how bone cancer is managed in dogs

Considering treatment options for canine osteosarcoma

New, promising clinical study results for an autologous prescription product used in combination with chemotherapy to treat canine osteosarcoma were presented by ELIAS Animal Health, a companion animal cancer therapeutics company, at the 2025 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in Louisville, Kentucky. The interim analysis of ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI) demonstrated improved outcomes by combining the initial cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy with the targeted immune-mediated response stimulated by ECI, which has the potential to enhance overall response and survival rates in dogs with cancer, according to the company.

“The hypothesis of putting a dose of chemotherapy in front of the immunotherapy does appear to produce even better outcomes than what we would have expected,” Tammie Wahaus, CEO of ELIAS Animal Health, said in a 

interview at the ACVIM Forum. The oral abstract, “Adoptive Cell Therapy With Chemotherapy Improves Canine Osteosarcoma Outcomes Compared to Standard of Care Chemotherapy,” was presented by Jeffrey N. Bryan, DVM, PhD, MS,  DACVIM, professor of oncology and associate director of the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, and principal investigator for the pilot trial for ECI, who shared with attendees that the combined therapeutic approach showed improved outcomes and was well tolerated.

In the study, 14 dogs received 1 dose of carboplatin, which was followed by ECI 21 days later. This treatment group showed the best response, with a 1-year survival rate of 71% compared with 21% in 14 matched control dogs newly diagnosed with osteosarcoma that received 4 doses of carboplatin only, which is the current standard of care, according to ELIAS Animal Health.

“We think that’s meaningful. We think it’s exciting, and we look forward to following these dogs to the point where we can report out an 18-month survival rate on an even bigger population of dogs,” Wahaus said.

“We’re excited to share these results at the 2025 ACVIM Forum and look forward to the final study results, which are expected in late 2026. We believe this interim analysis provides important clinical insights into how veterinarians treating cancer are integrating ECI into their treatment protocols,” she added in a news release.

Bryan said that, as a practicing oncologist, there are 2 exciting takeaways with ECI and the latest advancement. “One, it shows that we can combine the type of therapy that our practitioners are used to, chemotherapy, with this immunotherapy. Two, it likely gives an expectation that more than half the dogs could be alive a year after you start treatment, and there really are not many options in osteosarcoma that have that kind of likelihood. This, if it holds, continues to be a significant movement of the needle for dogs that suffer from this terrible bone cancer,” he said in a 

ECI was approved by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Center for Veterinary Biologics in March 2025.

 This is the only USDA-approved treatment for canine osteosarcoma, and it works as a personalized cancer vaccine that is combined with activated T cells that target cancer cells. ECI is currently available at authorized treatment centers in the US.

New study data on chemo-immunotherapy approach using the ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI) to treat bone cancer in dogs demonstrates improved outcomes. News release. ELIAS Animal Health. June 19, 2025. Accessed June 20, 2025. 

https://eliasanimalhealth.com/news/eci-combined-with-chemo-shows-improved-outcomes/

McCafferty C. USDA approves new canine cancer therapy. 

. March 19, 2025. Accessed June 20, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/usda-approves-new-canine-cancer-therapy

Articles

ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy was combined with chemotherapy in a study with results presented at the 2025 ACVIM Forum.

A study presented at the 2025 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in Louisville, Kentucky, on 375 cats with a first lifetime diagnosis of diabetes in the United Kingdom found that age 15 years or greater was a risk factor for failure to receive antihyperglycemic therapy and early mortality (less than or equal to 30 days).

 The research was presented by Oliver Waite, BVSc, MVetMed, DACVIM (SAIM), MRCVS, senior lecturer in small animal medicine at The Animal Hospital of Murdoch University in Western Australia, Australia.

Approximately 1 in 100 to 1 in 500 cats will be diagnosed with diabetes in their lifetime.

During his presentation, Waite shared that up to 10% of cats on high-dose prednisone may develop diabetes, with more than 85% of these patients developing the disease within 3 months of therapy.

 He also noted that neutering males acts as a risk factor for developing diabetes.

Twenty percent of feline patients diagnosed with diabetes do not receive antihyperglycemic therapy.

 “There's limited information describing these events, so there doesn't appear to be a lot of information pertaining patient signalment, presenting clinical signs, [or] laboratory tests performed at or around the time of diagnosis,” said Waite, speaking of the statistics of feline patients with diabetes who do not receive antihyperglycemic therapy.

Additionally, up to 20% of cats will die within 30 days following their first lifetime diagnosis of diabetes, although for this, there is also limited information explaining why, according to Waite. “It's even more...alarming when we look at how many cats are euthanized,” he said during his presentation. “Euthanasia is the overwhelming cause of mortality, and I suppose it would be the case that these cats are euthanized either because of their diabetes or because diabetes is part of their concurrent problem. But again, it's a little bit hard to kind of tease apart these cats—were they actually treated with antihyperglycemic therapy [and] died and or were [they] euthanized within [the treatment] period?”

The study, an anonymized retrospective cohort study, used electronic health records from VetCompass, a UK-based program that extracts and analyzes clinical data from veterinary practices in the country. Using this program, electronic health records from cats seeing UK veterinary primary care practices between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019, were identified and reviewed. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were then performed, including risk factors (

<0.2) associated with cats who were not receiving antihyperglycemic therapy and a ≤30 mortality (

According to Waite, the most common presenting clinical signs reported in the primary care practice electronic health records were polydipsia, weight loss, and polyuria. Signs associated with diabetic neuropathy or diabetic ketoacidosis were infrequently reported in the health records. Still, presenting clinical signs, comorbidities, and laboratory tests were not found to be associated with less than or equal to 30-day mortality.

More than 80% (n=310) of the cats in the study received antihyperglycemic therapy. Yet, approximately 10% of treated cats still suffered mortality within 30 days of diagnosis. Sixty-five did not receive antihyperglycemic therapy.

Being aged 15 years or older was identified as the only factor significantly associated with increased odds of not receiving antihyperglycemic therapy as well as increased mortality within 30 days after starting therapy in both analyses.

“We know that age is not a disease—it's something that we're all told...But here it's really hard to ignore [since] it appears to drastically influence decisions and outcomes to these patients,” said Waite.

Waite explained that this baseline information will be necessary to benchmark future outcomes, especially as new therapies like SGLT-2 inhibitors emerge. “We're going to need this baseline information to fall back on to decide how significant the use of SGLT2 inhibitors is in terms of improving patient quality of life [and] compliance, reducing morbidity and/or mortality,” he said.

Waite O. Risk Factors Against Treating Cats with Diabetes Mellitus and ≤30-day Survival After Starting Anti-Hyperglycaemic Therapy. Presented at: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum; June 18-21, 2025. Louisville, KY.

Feline diabetes. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-diabetes

The study, presented at the 2025 ACVIM Forum, found that cats aged greater than or equal to 15 years old were less likely to receive antihyperglycemic therapy.

Study links older age to early mortality and treatment gaps in feline diabetes

The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) has confirmed through its investigation that 21 horses in the southwestern US have tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA)—also known as swamp fever or Coggins disease. EIA is a potentially fatal blood-borne infectious viral disease that produces a persistent infection among equids. As of late May 2025, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas have all had equids that tested positive for the disease.

The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) disclosed that the cases occurred in 2 clusters, one during May 2024 and another ranging from mid-June to August 2024. The ages of horses infected in these clusters range from 2 to 14 years old, and Quarter, Andalusian, Paint, and Rocky Mountain horses have been affected, explained Angela Pelzel-McCluskey, DVM, MS, APHIS national equine epidemiologist, during a National Equine Industry Stakeholder Call.

Of the affected horses, few had the typical risk factors, like international travel, and represented different disciplines.

A joint investigation with APHIS, state veterinary medical boards, and state agriculture departments began in March 2025 to identify potentially exposed horses for testing. However, Pelzel-McCluskey warned that the disease is likely being spread through iatrogenic transmission (disease resulting from medical activity), and clinical signs of EIA include anemia, fever, low platelet count, and muscle weakness. Any owners concerned about their horse potentially being exposed should contact their veterinarian and get their horse tested.

Clusters of EIA-positive horses in May, June, and August 2024 were found to have originated from an equine clinic in Texas. USDA-APHIS obtained the complete medical history of the 21 confirmed horses, and they were then placed in the intensive care unit and had an intravenous catheter placed and flushed. At this time, the investigation indicated that the infections were caused by EIA-infected blood contamination of heparinized saline in multiple-use bottles that were used to flush catheters at the clinic repeatedly by employees.

 The USDA has stated that it is possible that not every horse exposed has been tested, so any concerned owners should be instructed to call their veterinarian and get their horse(s) tested.

As for the investigation, the next step is to create a more complete list from the clinic’s appointment book of those horses that were exposed to create an affected time range, while also completing EIA regulatory testing on the potentially exposed horses. Testing will then be completed on cohorts that contain any EIA-positive cases.

“Although the current prevalence of EIA in the US equine population remains very low, at an estimated national prevalence of around 0.004%, the epidemiology of EIA-positive cases has shifted in recent years. Most EIA cases were previously found to occur from natural transmission by biting fly vectors in untested and undertested populations. Increasing cases of iatrogenic transmission are now being identified,” APHIS stated in its 2023 report on EIA cases in the US.

The EDCC has current information on EIA, including background information and alerts for new cases. The American Association of Equine Practitioners also has guidelines that veterinary professionals can access on the disease, as well as an owner fact sheet.

EIA outbreak kills 21 horses in Southwest US. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. June 13, 2025. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/eia-outbreak-kills-21-horses-southwest-us

May 2025 - National Equine Health Industry Stakeholder Call. Equine Disease Communication Center YouTube page. May 15, 2025. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPfYO6gv44o

‌EIA cases began at Texas veterinary clinic. News release. Equine Disease Communication Center. May 30, 2025. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.equinediseasecc.org/news/article/Cluster-of-EIA-Cases-Originated-at-Texas-Veterinary-Clinic

2023 equine infectious anemia cases in the United States. United States Department of Agriculture. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-eia-report.pdf

Horses have tested positive for the potentially fatal blood-borne infectious disease in multiple southwest states in the US.

Equine infectious anemia outbreaks cause death of over 20 horses 

Happy Friday dvm360 readers! Did you know that the dvm360 editorial team has hit the road and is attending the 2025 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in Louisville Kentucky. You can check out our coverage of the event on dvm360’s dedicated 

, along with coverage from other conferences include Fetch, AVMA Convention, and VMX!

Besides covering the ACVIM Forum, here is what dvm360’s team covered this week:

Earlier this week, Lincoln Memorial University, one of the biggest veterinary schools in the United States, 

 that they have filed a lawsuit against the American Veterinary Medical Association, stating that they are violating antitrust laws in the United States.

 is now available online! This article takes a deep dive into the emotional wellbeing of patients and how their behavior can be signs of distress, plus what ways it can be managed with interventions.

 of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomed Jennifer Quammen, DVM, MPH, to share more on her careers in veterinary medicine, plus why the industry needs more diverse perspectives, inclusivity, and sustainability.

 of Fetch Nashville? You can check out this exclusive content available on dvm360.com here! From lecture highlights to interviews with key industry leaders and more, you can relive your time and the conference, or see what you missed, all 

 with dvm360 at the 2025 ACVIM Forum in Louisville, Kentucky, Frederick R. Appelbaum, MD, shared the pivotal role that canine patients play in advancing human and veterinary medicine, which he highlighted in his lecture on bone marrow transplantation.

Wrap up: LMU sues AVMA, and other veterinary news 

Dogs with diabetes exhibited alterations distinct from those seen in human type 1 diabetes, which is linked to hypovitaminosis D, in a study evaluating vitamin D metabolism in these canines. Results of this study, which was the first to use a standardized diet to investigate vitamin D metabolism in dogs with diabetes, were presented with a poster at the 2025 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in Louisville, Kentucky.

Hypovitaminosis D is linked to human insulin resistance and an increased risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, an association between hypovitaminosis D and diabetes in dogs is unclear, although there is a well-established role of hypovitaminosis D in canine autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, according to investigators.

The study’s objective was to assess whether dogs with diabetes exhibit alterations in serum vitamin D status and to help set a standard diet for these affected canines, according to investigators. “The great finding was that, different from diabetes in humans, the serum vitamin D was not decreased; it was increased,” Camila S. Torelli, MS, the presenting author and a professor at UNIFACCAMP in Sao Paulo, Brazil, said in a 

In fact, investigators found that dogs with diabetes had significantly higher mean serum 24,25-(OH)

 = .007) in the study. Meanwhile, no significant differences were found in age or median serum calcidiol concentrations between groups (

The study enrolled 27 dogs with diabetes and free from other diseases, as well as 19 healthy canines. According to investigators, the dogs with diabetes had a 60-day stabilization period. During this time, they received NPH insulin and a diet formulated for canine diabetes.

Following the stabilization period, the dogs with diabetes were fed the same diet for 2 months, whereas healthy dogs in the study were fed the same diet for 60 days. Investigators analyzed serum calcidiol and 24,25-(OH)

 and used Wilcoxon or t-tests to compare dogs with diabetes with healthy canines.

Investigators noted the findings align with human juvenile insulin-dependent diabetes, for which increased calcidiol and serum 24,25-(OH)

 concentrations have also been observed. In the poster presentation, they wrote that these elevated serum concentrations found may be caused by mitochondrial stimulation of 24-hydroxylase by diabetes metabolites, a scenario that has been reported in insulin-dependent rats.

Torelli said these study results can lead to more studies on diabetes and metabolism, as well as other perspectives for treatment and diagnosis. “Diabetes is definitely something that people are interested in learning more about. It's revealing to be something of big complexity, with diagnosis, treatment, [and] prognosis,” she concluded.

Pereira EF, Torelli C, Torres de Almeida Villar S, et al. Serum vitamin D metabolites in diabetic dogs. Presented at: 2025 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum; June 18-21, 2025; Louisville, KY.

Results were presented at the 2025 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in Louisville, Kentucky.