Oncology
Introduction | Canine mast cell tumours | Canine lymphoma | Canine brain tumours | Feline oral squamous cell carcinomas | Other cancers of interest | Current research
Introduction
The Oncology Research Group at the Animal Health Trust is carrying out research that is intended to enable the clinicians to better diagnose, treat and cure more dogs and cats in the future. We hope that by identifying the underlying causes of cancer in cats and dogs, it may be possible to reduce the numbers of animals that suffer from these diseases.
The Oncology Research Group was formed to combine the expertise and experience of oncologists, pathologists, soft tissue surgeons, epidemiologists, neurologists, canine and feline internal medicine clinicians and molecular biologists. We are currently investigating many different aspects of a number of the most common canine and feline cancers, in particular lymphoma, mast cell tumours and brain tumours of dogs and oral squamous cell carcinomas of cats. Our investigations include:
- identification of causes and risk factors for these tumours
- developing and improving methods for detection of these tumours at an early stage
- improving our predictions of how these tumours will behave and respond to treatment
- developing improved therapies for the tumours
We do not use any experimental animals in our research, but rather we rely on obtaining samples of naturally occurring tumours that are collected from patients by veterinary surgeons as part of the normal diagnostic clinical procedures.
Canine mast cell tumours
Introduction
Mast cell tumours are the most common skin cancer in dogs and primarily affect middle-aged and elderly dogs. They display a wide range of severity ranging from the benign to the malignant, but 70% of mast cell tumours can be cured by surgery and local radiotherapy.
Current research
How pet owners/breeders can help our research
Further information for vets
Canine lymphoma
Introduction
Lymphoma is the most frequent life-threatening cancer in dogs, accounting for up to 20% of all tumours and affecting as many as 24 out of every 100,000 dogs. Lymphoma may occur in dogs of any age, but is most common in dogs between 6-9 years old. Lymphoma is very sensitive to chemotherapy and up to 80% of dogs treated will go into remission, for an average of 12 months.
Previous research
Success story
Current research
How pet owners/breeders can help our research
Further information for vets
Canine brain tumours
Introduction
Previous research
Success story
Current research
Further information for vets
Feline oral squamous cell carcinomas
Introduction
Previous research
Success story
Current research
Further information for vets
Other cancers of interest
Canine soft tissue sarcoma
Introduction
Previous research
Success story
Current research
How pet owners/breeders can help our research
Further information for vets
Canine ocular melanoma
Introduction
Previous research
Success story
Current research
How pet owners/breeders can help our research
Further information for vets
Canine osteosarcoma
Introduction
Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer of dogs. It is primarily a disease of middle-aged and older dogs, estimated to affect over 8000 animals per year in the United States. The tumour is extremely malignant and for greater than 90% of affected animals, which do not receive chemotherapy following limb amputation, the cancer will spread (usually to the lungs) within 1 year of amputation. However, 40-60% of dogs that receive chemotherapy following limb amputation survive for 12 months, and indeed half of these survive long term.
Previous research
Success story
Current research
How pet owners/breeders can help our research
Further information for vets
