Background: Dogs like humans are prone to high levels of malignancy. Using technology developed at the Bill Walsh Translational Research Labs to produce cancer vaccines we recruited canine patients to participate in a phase one safety trial.

Aims:1) To demonstrate safety of autologous vaccine preparations in canine patients 2) Look for evidence of efficacy against predicted survival based on tumour grade and type.

Methods: Dogs enrolled in the study had a personalised (autologous) vaccine made for them from a sample of their own tumour. Dogs received two vaccinations three weeks apart and then were monitored for tumour reccurance and/or progression.

Results: Twenty five family pet dogs of a variety of breeds presenting with nine different types of advanced cancer were treated. No adverse events were seen in any dogs receiving autologous vaccines even when on a variety of other medications. Ninety percent of dogs receiving two vaccinations (16/18) exceeded their expected survival time by two weeks to twenty two months at time of census date.

Conclusion: The study demonstrated no safety concerns in dogs treated with autologous vaccines.  Evidence of efficacy was seen in the treated dogs, however this needs to be confirmed in a double blinded control study.