Therapy for Osteosarcoma in Dogs With Intravenous Injection of Liposome-Encapsulated Muramyl Tripeptide

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Abstract
Canine osteosarcoma is a spontaneous malignancy in dogs, characterized by micrometastasis to pulmonary and extrapulmonary tissues at the time of diagnosis. Standard treatment involves amputation of the affected leg, but median survival time is 3–4 months with death due to metastasis. A randomized double-blind trial was conducted to evaluate liposome-encapsulated muramyl tripeptide-phosphatidylethanolamine (liposome/MTP-PE) as a treatment for metastasis in dogs undergoing amputation for osteosarcoma. Fourteen dogs were treated with liposome/MTP-PE, and 13 were treated with empty liposomes. Median survival time was 222 days for dogs treated with liposome/MTP-PE, compared to 77 days for dogs treated with empty liposomes (P<.002). In the liposome< MTP-PE-treated group there were still four dogs alive and free of metastasis at >1 year post surgery. Treatment was well tolerated; no significant toxic effects were noted except for mild elevations in body temperature (1–2 °C) for 2–6 hours post injection. [J Natl Cancer Inst 81:935-938, 1989]