Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine lymphoma treatment with IL-15 plus chemotherapy benefits
By Kang, Min-Hee et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·Department of Bio-Animal Health, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Immunotherapeutic efficacy of recombinant canine IL-15 as an adjunct to chemotherapy in canine lymphoma.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with lymphoma received a new treatment called recombinant canine IL-15 along with their standard chemotherapy to see if it would help them more than chemotherapy alone. Out of 61 dogs in the study, those getting the IL-15 showed a better response to treatment, with 77.8% improving compared to 57.9% in the control group. The dogs receiving IL-15 also had lower levels of certain tumor markers and reported better quality of life, including improved appetite and activity. Most side effects were mild and manageable, suggesting that this new treatment could be a promising option for dogs with lymphoma.
People also search for: dog lymphoma treatment · IL-15 for dogs · chemotherapy side effects in dogs · improving dog quality of life with cancer
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Canine lymphoma is a common hematopoietic malignancy with variable response to standard chemotherapy. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is known to enhance cytotoxic lymphocyte activity, and this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a recombinant canine IL-15 (rcIL-15) as an adjunct to chemotherapy in dogs with lymphoma. METHODS: A total of 61 dogs diagnosed with lymphoma were enrolled in a 12-week clinical study. The test group received rcIL-15 in combination with standard chemotherapy, while the control group received chemotherapy alone. Outcome measures included tumor response rates, tumor biomarker levels (TK-1, LDH, β2-microglobulin), quality of life (QOL) assessments, and adverse event monitoring. RESULTS: Of the 61 dogs enrolled, 37 completed the study. The test group demonstrated a higher overall response rate (complete + partial response: 77.8%) compared to the control group (57.9%). Disease progression was observed in 16.7% of dogs in the test group versus 31.6% in controls. Tumor biomarkers were significantly reduced in the test group: TK-1 at 8 weeks (< 0.0001), LDH at 12 weeks (= 0.005), and β2-microglobulin at both 8 and 12 weeks (< 0.05). IFN-γ levels remained stable. QOL parameters, including appetite, activity, and happiness, showed significant improvement. Adverse events were mild, mostly gastrointestinal, and manageable. DISCUSSION: Adjunctive rcIL-15 therapy improved tumor response, reduced biomarker levels, and enhanced QOL with an acceptable safety profile. These findings support the potential of rcIL-15 as a safe and effective immunotherapeutic adjunct for canine lymphoma, meriting further investigation in larger-scale trials.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40520425/