COMPARATIVE ONCOLOGY: CANINE AND FELINE TUMOR BIOLOGY AND THERAPIES

Abstract

Comparative oncology provides a unique opportunity to look at tumour biology and responsiveness to treatment by comparing across animals.  The article evaluated oncological and treatment prognosis on 200 dog and cat malignancies cases with squamous cell carcinoma, mast cell tumour, fibrosarcoma, lymphoma, and mammary carcinoma.  These results showed that cats were more affected by fibrosarcomas and squamous cell carcinomas whereas mast cell tumours and lymphomas were more prevalent in dogs.  The tendency in the development of tumour also differed between the species; their histopathological and immunohistochemical investigation revealed local infiltrative growth in cats, and more heterogeneity in tumour in dogs.  Outcomes of treatments were different: the use of multimodal therapy was extremely advantageous to dogs (particularly, when dealing with mast cell turbours), responses to it being conservatively-corrective in feline cases often depended on where the tumours were and how difficult they are to operate on.  In both species, statistical significant predictors of tumour grade and outcome were biomarkers such as p53 and Ki-67.  Survival studies gave the advantage to the early diagnosis and well-rounded treatment protocols.  The findings of the study mean that species-specific oncology strategies are important in offering the best care, and comparative views of the investigations are viable additions to the translation and veterinary cancer research.