2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

To date, ten dogs have been recruited and CD40-activated B cells have been successfully generated for nine dogs. Briefly, PBMCs are co-cultured with feeder cells consisting of irradiated K562 cells transfected with human CD40L (KtCD40L) in the presence of cyclosporine and IL-4, to generate CD40-activated B cells. CD40-B cells are then electroporated with RNA extracted from autologous malignant lymph node tissue or with canine distemper virus Hemagglutinin antigen (CDV-HA) mRNA as a control vaccine. At the time of writing, 2/10 dogs have completed their induction chemotherapy and have received their initial priming vaccinations. No adverse events have occurred following vaccine administration, and neither dog has yet relapsed. The trial is ongoing and the preliminary data confirm the feasibility of autologous CD40-B cell vaccine generation and safety of administration.