Oral melanoma in dogs: treatment, prognosis and clinical trials

Dogs · USA & Canada

Understanding oral melanoma

Oral melanoma is a cancer of pigment-producing cells in the mouth. In dogs it can invade nearby bone and soft tissue and also spread to regional lymph nodes and the lungs. Tumor size, exact location and stage strongly affect both local treatment options and the risk of metastasis.

What does the prognosis look like?

The outlook changes sharply by stage. In published radiation-treated groups, the typical survival time was about 25 months for stage I, 9 months for stage II, 5 months for stage III and 2–3 months for stage IV. Other treatments and study populations give different results, so these are orientation points rather than a prediction. They show why measuring the tumor and checking lymph nodes and lungs matters before treatment.

What matters next

The useful starting point is the stage: how large the oral tumor is, whether nearby lymph nodes contain melanoma and whether there is visible distant spread. Local control of the mouth tumor matters, but so does metastatic risk, so both questions should be addressed in the treatment plan.

Where are you now?

The oral tumor is still present

Stage the primary tumor, regional lymph nodes and lungs while planning local control. If a trial requires measurable disease, check it before surgery or radiation when doing so will not delay necessary treatment.

The oral tumor was already removed

Get the measured margins, original tumor size, and staging results. A visually clean mouth does not answer the metastatic-risk question; lymph-node and lung status still matter.

A regional lymph node is positive

A positive node changes stage and prognosis. Ask whether local treatment of the node is appropriate and how systemic options fit with control of the primary site.

There is distant metastatic disease

The emphasis shifts toward systemic control and comfort while local mouth treatment may still help bleeding, pain, or function. Use the actual stage rather than the diagnosis name alone when considering trials.

If you are waiting for oncology

Do not let a long wait delay staging of the mouth, regional lymph nodes and lungs. If the tumor is still measurable, trial eligibility may change after surgery or radiation, so checking options before local treatment can be useful when it does not delay necessary care.

Questions to ask your oncologist

What stage is this melanoma based on tumor size, nodes and lungs?
Should the regional lymph nodes be sampled even if they are not enlarged?
What local-control plan gives the best balance of margin, function and metastatic risk?

How the diagnosis may appear in the record

Oral melanoma may be melanotic or amelanotic, so it does not have to look black. Poorly pigmented tumors may need immunohistochemistry to confirm melanocytic origin. Record the original tumor diameter, exact oral site, bone invasion, measured margins, lymph-node findings, and distant stage.

Changes to watch for at home

Report increasing mouth pain, bleeding, odor, dropping food, difficulty chewing or swallowing, weight loss, facial swelling, or breathing changes. Significant bleeding, inability to eat or drink, or respiratory distress should not wait. Check the mouth only if it can be done safely and comfortably.

How it is usually treated

Local control usually means surgery when a functional complete removal is possible or radiation when surgery cannot achieve good control. Because oral melanoma can spread early, systemic or immune-based treatment may also be discussed. Clinical trials are especially relevant when the tumor is measurable or when standard options are limited.

What can affect treatment choices

Stage matters most: tumor size and site, lymph-node involvement, lung or other spread, and whether surgery or radiation can control the primary tumor.

Tests that may matter

Pathology confirms the diagnosis and should include features relevant to biologic behavior. Regional lymph nodes may need sampling even when they are not enlarged, and chest imaging is commonly used to look for spread. Local imaging is useful when bone or deep soft-tissue invasion affects surgery or radiation planning.

Treatment options available now

14 options currently in our catalog.

Check eligibility

Vaccine study for dogs with melanoma

University of Florida · USA

Location

UF Small Animal Hospital, 2015 SW 16th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32608

Study details

Currently enrolling

What is being offered: UF currently lists a canine melanoma vaccine study.

Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Resectable or minimal

Costs / coverage: ⚪ Owner-paid. Owners pay in advance for the vaccines and initial examination and remain responsible for subsequent visits; six-month booster vaccines carry an additional charge. The prescreening oncology evaluation is also owner-paid.

Contact: UF Oncology Staff — (352) 392-2235; Study Interest Form / Oncology Referral Form on the official study page

Official study / enrollment information →

Gilvetmab treatment study for canine malignant melanoma

Ethos Veterinary Health · USA

Participating locations

Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital, 734 Alpha Dr, Highland Heights, OH 44143
Summit Veterinary Referral Center, 2505 S 80th St, Tacoma, WA 98409
Veterinary Specialty Hospital, 10435 Sorrento Valley Rd, San Diego, CA 92121

Study details

Now enrolling patients

What is being offered: Safety and efficacy study of gilvetmab in dogs with malignant melanoma; age ≥1 year.

Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Min weight lb: 6.6; Active tumor required; Min age years: 1

Costs / coverage: 🟢 Fully funded. All study-related visits are covered at no cost to the pet owner.

Contact: Contact participating Ethos hospital through official study page.

Official study / enrollment information →

CAALM: UCD-PDL1 immunotherapy for oral melanoma metastatic to lung

UC Davis Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials · USA

Location

UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, 1 Garrod Dr, Davis, CA 95616

Study details

Active - Recruiting

What is being offered: Protocol VCCT-24-012 enrolls dogs with cytology- or biopsy-confirmed oral melanoma and at least one lung nodule consistent with metastasis. Dogs receive up to six biweekly UCD-PDL1 antibody treatments over 98 days. Recent chemotherapy, immunotherapy or corticosteroids within two weeks and uncontrolled comorbidity may exclude enrollment.

Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Metastatic; min expected survival weeks: 4 weeks; Active tumor required; Measurable lung metastases; Min weight kg exclusive: 15; Max weight kg exclusive: 36; chemotherapy washout: 14 days; steroid washout days: 14 days

May not qualify if: Prior checkpoint inhibitor

Costs / coverage: 🟢 Study-supported. UCD-PDL1 treatments, required diagnostics and imaging, and management of study-related adverse events up to $2,000 are covered; owners pay pre-enrollment consultation and eligibility diagnostics.

Contact: UC Davis VCCT — vcct@ucdavis.edu; 530-754-1954

Official study / enrollment information →

Combinatorial PDL1-IRDye800 imaging to guide surgery for canine oral cancer

UC Davis Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials · USA

Location

UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, 1 Garrod Dr, Davis, CA 95616

Study details

Active - Recruiting

What is being offered: Protocol VCCT-26-008 enrolls dogs over one year old with confirmed oral SCC or oral malignant melanoma that are healthy enough for anesthesia and repeated visits. Anti-PDL1-IRDye800 is administered IV twice before near-infrared imaging at 8, 24 and 48 hours and repeat biopsy or curative-intent surgery. Recruitment period: 2026-06-30 through 2028-06-29.

Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Anesthesia eligible; Min age years exclusive: 1

Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. The study covers the pre-operative biopsy and additional hospitalization time and provides a $1,500 incentive toward therapy; owners pay screening, oral-tumor workup and treatment costs beyond that incentive.

Contact: UC Davis VCCT — vcct@ucdavis.edu; 530-754-1954

Official study / enrollment information →

Gold nanoparticle photothermal treatment for selected superficial tumors

Bridge Animal Referral Center · USA

Location

Bridge Animal Referral Center, 8401 Main St, Edmonds, WA 98026, Edmonds, WA

Study details

Active enrollment — eligible superficial gross tumors

What is being offered: Intravenous gold nanoparticles followed by near-infrared laser heating of the superficial tumor; BARC describes one heat session for smaller lesions and commonly two to three for larger sarcomas.

Who may qualify: Active tumor required; Measurable

Costs / coverage: Current BARC enrollment page does not specify costs or coverage. An older BARC page mentions support for different, narrower cohorts; those amounts cannot be assumed to apply to this enrollment.

Contact: Bridge Animal Referral Center, Edmonds — 425-697-2272

Official study / enrollment information →

GD2/3 melanoma vaccine + anti-PD1 (gilvetmab) for oral malignant melanoma

University of Florida Veterinary Hospitals · USA

Location

UF Small Animal Hospital, 2015 SW 16th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32608

Study details

Currently recruiting

What is being offered: GD2/3 vaccine plus four IV gilvetmab infusions; serial tumor biopsies and immune monitoring

Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Resectable or minimal; Oral tumor not excised

Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. The study covers the anti-PD-1 drug and study-related tumor biopsies; owners pay for vaccines, exam, staging and other treatment costs.

Contact: UF Oncology — 352-392-2235; Study Interest Form + referring-veterinarian Oncology Referral Form required

Official study / enrollment information →

Evaluation of TLR agonist Z-007 in dogs with cancer

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University · USA

Location

Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA 01536

Study details

Recruiting

What is being offered: Dog study of IV or intratumoral Z-007 for solid tumors including carcinomas, sarcomas and melanoma. Public criteria include a generally 2–7 cm repeat-biopsy-accessible tumor plus medical/laboratory requirements; no prior immunotherapy or autoimmune disease. Investigator prescreening required.

Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Min weight kg: 7; Measurable

May not qualify if: Prior immunotherapy

Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. Z-007 treatment through Day 63 and treatment of Z-007/biopsy-related side effects are covered; other owner costs should be confirmed with Tufts.

Contact: clinicaltrials@tufts.edu

Official study / enrollment information →

Palladia (toceranib) for canine oral melanoma

Ontario Veterinary College — University of Guelph · Canada

Location

Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada

Study details

Actively recruiting — listed on current OVC canine oncology trials page

What is being offered: Treatment study for biopsy-confirmed canine oral melanoma with measurable disease. OVC states dogs with previous chemotherapy are not eligible; prior melanoma vaccination is allowed. Multiple OVC visits are required.

Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Measurable

May not qualify if: Prior chemo

Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. The study covers initial staging, Palladia medication and associated dispensing/administration fees.

Contact: OVC Clinical Trials — ovc.clinicaltrials@uoguelph.ca; official study contact form

Official study / enrollment information →

IL-12/IL-15 treatment for canine oral melanoma

University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital · USA

Location

University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, 1008 W Hazelwood Dr, Urbana, IL 61802

Study details

Actively recruiting — confirmed on the institution’s current clinical-trials page

What is being offered: One radiation dose followed by four intratumoral IL-12/IL-15 fusion-peptide injections

Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Min age years: 1; Min weight kg: 8; Measurable; Planned radiation; Min tumor cm: 1; Max tumor cm: 5

May not qualify if: Prior chemo; Prior local radiation; Prior immunotherapy; Immunosuppressive

Costs / coverage: Fully funded after eligibility. Owner pays the initial consultation and eligibility diagnostics; unrelated-condition costs remain owner-paid.

Contact: Rebecca Kamerer, Clinical Trials Coordinator — rmoss81@illinois.edu · 217-300-6453; appointments 217-333-5300

Official study / enrollment information →

AAV Cancer Vaccine for Canine Oral Melanoma

University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine · USA

Location

University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center, 1365 Gortner Ave, St Paul, MN 55108

Study details

Open and enrolling

What is being offered: Novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) cancer vaccine

Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. The study covers all study-associated visit costs and provides a $4,000 credit toward local surgery or radiation therapy performed at the University of Minnesota; owners pay any local-therapy cost above the credit.

Contact: University of Minnesota Clinical Investigation Center — 612-624-2485; Canine Brain Tumor Program clinical-trials coordinator Sara Pracht

Official study / enrollment information →

Intratumoral vs IV Carboplatin with or without HIFU for Canine Melanoma

UT Southwestern Veterinary Research and Oncology Clinic · USA

Location

Veterinary Research and Oncology Clinic, 5801 Forest Park Rd, Dallas, TX 75235

Study details

Current

What is being offered: Intratumoral nanoparticle/microparticle carboplatin versus IV carboplatin with or without HIFU

Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Planned chemo

May not qualify if: Prior chemo; Severe systemic disease

Costs / coverage: ⚪ Owner-paid. The protocol brochure states that owners fully pay for the study, although possible subsidies may be available.

Contact: Paige Neumann, Research Study Coordinator — 214-645-6221; VROC@UTSouthwestern.edu

Official study / enrollment information →

Compassionate-Use Protocol for Advanced Non-Resectable Tumors

UT Southwestern Veterinary Research and Oncology Clinic · USA

Location

Veterinary Research and Oncology Clinic, 5801 Forest Park Rd, Dallas, TX 75235

Study details

Current

What is being offered: Investigational therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and combination approaches under a prospective compassionate-use protocol

Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Min weight kg exclusive: 2.5; min expected survival weeks: 3 weeks; Adequate organ function

May not qualify if: Severe systemic disease

Costs / coverage: ⚪ Owner-paid. The protocol brochure states that owners fully pay for the study, although possible subsidies may be available.

Contact: Paige Neumann, Research Study Coordinator — 214-645-6221; VROC@UTSouthwestern.edu

Official study / enrollment information →

Immunotherapy for canine oral melanoma

The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center · USA

Location

The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, 601 Vernon L Tharp St, Columbus, OH 43210

Study details

Actively recruiting — confirmed on Ohio State's current clinical-trials page

What is being offered: Current Ohio State treatment study using intratumoral weakened LCMV followed by collection/expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, with reinfusion if metastatic/progressive disease develops. Public criteria require localized confirmed oral melanoma accessible to injection/biopsy; a randomized control arm does not receive the virus injection but remains eligible for immune-cell collection/reinfusion if disease progresses.

Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Measurable; Localized; Planned surgery

May not qualify if: Prior local radiation; Current immunosuppressive medications

Costs / coverage: Study covers tumor biopsy, two CT imaging sessions, trial-related blood work, viral reagent/injections, immune-cell collection/priming/reinfusion, plus an $800 post-trial incentive; confirm any remaining owner costs with Ohio State.

Contact: Blue Buffalo Veterinary Clinical Trials Office — CVM-ClinicalTrials@osu.edu

Official study / enrollment information →

Single-fraction SABR for progressive canine lung metastases

Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine · USA

Location

Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA 01536

Study details

Recruiting

What is being offered: Single highly focused radiation dose for dogs with 2–10 progressive pulmonary metastatic nodules. The primary tumor, regional nodes and any non-pulmonary metastases must already be controlled; progression must be documented over 6–8 weeks, and all progressive lung lesions at least 5 mm must be safely treatable. Prior systemic therapy is allowed; cytotoxic chemotherapy pauses around SABR, while tolerated targeted therapy or immunotherapy may continue with radiation-oncologist approval. Tufts prescreening is required.

Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Metastatic; Measurable lung metastases; Planned radiation

Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. The study covers SABR, the one-month follow-up, adverse-event rechecks related to lung toxicity, and up to $860 toward the 2–3-month CT visit. Owners pay pre-enrollment bloodwork, chest imaging, treatment-planning CT, and diagnostic confirmation.

Contact: Tufts Clinical Trials Office — clinicaltrials@tufts.edu; owner and referring-veterinarian prescreening questionnaires on the official page

Official study / enrollment information →