Recent and current clinical trials in canine appendicular osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma (OSA) is an aggressive primary bone tumor in the domestic dog that most often occurs within the appendicular skeleton. Despite the use of adjuvant chemotherapy, most dogs succumb to metastatic disease within 1 year of diagnosis. To improve this outcome, substantial research is currently focused on investigating novel therapies. Herein, we review emerging treatments and clinical trials that, if proven efficacious, could revolutionize the standard of care for canine appendicular OSA. This article includes a critical perspective on the safety, efficacy, and limitations of select immunotherapy, virotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and personalized medicine trials, all of which reflect similar investigations taking place in human oncology. These clinical trials represent a major evolution in the overall approach to therapy for dogs with appendicular OSA that could have significant implications for improving survival.