Discovery and functional characterization of canine PD-L1-targeted antibodies for evaluating antitumor efficacy in a canine osteosarcoma xenograft model

Targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway is promising in treating cancer in humans and offers potential for veterinary applications. However, no PD-L1 antibodies have been approved specifically for treating canine cancer. We aimed to develop PD-L1-specific antibodies using phage display technology for treating canine cancer. A synthetic antibody library was screened, and 18 high-affinity single-chain variable fragment clones were subsequently converted to the IgG format for enhancing binding affinity and functional stability. The clone #15 exhibited the highest binding affinity and most pronounced antitumor effects. The PD-1/PD-L1 interaction was inhibited by antibody #15. The binding and thermal stabilities of the antibodies were validated by flow cytometry and thermal stability assays, respectively. In NOG mice xenografted with canine osteosarcoma cells and treated with canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells and antibody #15, the tumor size and weight were reduced. Antibody #15 significantly increased apoptosis of tumor cells and lymphocyte populations. Therefore, anti-PD-L1 antibodies, particularly antibody #15, have substantial potential as novel immunotherapeutic agents against canine osteosarcoma. This study represents a significant advancement in veterinary oncology, with the potential of improving treatment outcomes for canine cancers and providing insights into similar strategies in human cancer therapy.