Companion animal treatments
The invention relates to minimizing the progression of cancer in a companion animal using P2X7 immunotherapy.
1. A method for minimising the progression of cancer in a companion animal, wherein the companion animal is a dog, the method including the step of:
administering to a dog in which the progression of cancer is to be minimized, a whole antibody or a fragment thereof including a variable domain that binds to a non-functional P2X 7 receptor that is expressed by the dog;
thereby minimising the progression of cancer in the dog.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is for treating cancer or condition or symptom associated with cancer in the dog.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the whole antibody or fragment thereof does not bind to functional P2X 7 receptors.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the whole antibody or fragment thereof is obtained from polyclonal antiserum.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the whole antibody or fragment thereof is raised against an antigen that is xenogeneic to the immune system in which it is raised.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the antigen is xenogeneic to the dog.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the whole antibody or fragment thereof is xenogeneic to the dog.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the cancer is one of hemangiosarcoma, metastatic mesothelioma, osteosarcoma, lymphoma, mast cell tumour, squamous cell carcinoma, mammary carcinoma, melanoma, fibrosarcoma or soft tissue sarcoma.