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Veterinary Sciences
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Focus on Tumours in Pet Animals: 2nd Edition
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Focus on Tumours in Pet Animals: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Internal Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 3914

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Louise van der Weyden

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
Interests: oncology; cancer; metastasis; cancer genetics; cancer genomics; comparative oncology; comparative genomics; animal models of cancer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As with ourselves, family members or friends, our pets may also develop a tumour during their lifetime. This could be either a benign or malignant tumour, a common or rarely reported tumour type, a tumour type for which prognosis is known or which no prognostic biomarkers are available, and/or a tumour for which therapy is available (either curative or allows for a significant period of disease-free survival) or one in which there are currently no options available (depending on tumour type, stage, and location). The news that our beloved pet has a tumour inevitably makes us want to know everything that there is to know about this tumour type, and sadly, we soon realise that much research remains to be done to be able to provide a better outlook for pets with tumours.

To this end, this Special Issue seeks to showcase investigations into understanding all aspects of neoplasia in pets, from tumourigenesis to progression to development of therapeutic resistance, as well as gaining an understanding of aetiology and thus potential methods of prevention. Some suggested topics include investigations into the underlying genetics or signalling pathways that play a role in driving tumourigenesis and/or tumour progression, identification of diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic biomarkers, evaluation of current and/or novel treatment regimes, or case reports of novel tumour types/clinical presentations. 

We hope that you will contribute an article to this Special Issue and showcase the dedication and effort that is being put into increasing our understanding of neoplasia in pets.

Dr. Louise van der Weyden
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • dog
  • cat
  • horse
  • rabbit
  • pet
  • neoplasia
  • tumour
  • cancer
  • oncology
  • genetics
  • pathology
  • diagnosis
  • prognosis
  • treatment
  • resistance
  • biomarker
  • presentation

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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10 pages, 805 KiB  
Article
Stability of microRNAs in Canine Serum—A Prerequisite for Use as Biomarkers in Tumour Diagnostics
by Alexandra Kehl, Ruth Klein, Katja Steiger and Heike Aupperle-Lellbach
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(4), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12040390 - 21 Apr 2025
Abstract
Since microRNAs are released into the bloodstream and miRNA profiles are supposed to differ between healthy and tumour patients, miRNAs seem to have potential as biomarkers. An essential prerequisite for biomarkers in a routine diagnostic setup is their stability in serum over time. [...] Read more.
Since microRNAs are released into the bloodstream and miRNA profiles are supposed to differ between healthy and tumour patients, miRNAs seem to have potential as biomarkers. An essential prerequisite for biomarkers in a routine diagnostic setup is their stability in serum over time. In this study, serum samples from 10 healthy dogs were analysed at different time points and under various temperature conditions (after 24 and 48 h, at 4° or 20 °C) for the copy number of eight miRNAs (miR-20b, 21, 122, 126, 192, 214, 222, 494) using ddPCR. The miR-21 had the highest copy number, whereas miR-494 had the lowest copy number in canine blood samples. The values of each miRNA varied individually between the dogs, showing a 5 to 10-fold range. Stability differed between the miRNAs, with miR-192 having the best stability. The copy number of miR-20b, miR-126 and miR-214 decreased not significantly during 48 h storage time. In contrast, miR-21, miR-122 and miR-222 were stable for 24 h only but decreased significantly after 48 h. The (in)stability of individual canine miRNAs must be considered when transferring study results into veterinary routine diagnostics, as the transport and storage conditions are variable. As far as possible, standardisation of sampling, storage and quantification of miRNAs is needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Focus on Tumours in Pet Animals: 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 684 KiB  
Article
Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Blood Ratios in Canine Splenic Hemangiosarcoma: A Multicentric Observational Study
by Ana M. Marques, Gonçalo Petrucci, Hugo Gregório, Luís Lobo, Joaquim Henriques, Ana C. Figueira, Hugo Vilhena, Carla Marrinhas and Felisbina L. Queiroga
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(4), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12040346 - 9 Apr 2025
Viewed by 292
Abstract
Peripheral complete blood cell count (CBC) and blood ratios, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil-to-red blood cell ratio (NRR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), have been used in the diagnosis and prognosis of several cancers; however, their relevance in canine splenic hemangiosarcoma (HSA) remains to [...] Read more.
Peripheral complete blood cell count (CBC) and blood ratios, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil-to-red blood cell ratio (NRR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), have been used in the diagnosis and prognosis of several cancers; however, their relevance in canine splenic hemangiosarcoma (HSA) remains to be investigated. This study investigated whether CBC, NLR, NRR, and PLR could be diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in dogs with splenic HSA. Analyzing medical records of 154 dogs undergoing splenectomy from 2018 to 2022, we found that dogs diagnosed with splenic HSA (n = 63) had significantly higher neutrophil counts (14.9 ± 9.7 vs. 12.6 ± 9.6; p < 0.001), increased NRR (3.7 ± 2.6 vs. 2.7 ± 3.7; p < 0.001), lower platelet counts (145 ± 111 vs. 270 ± 213; p < 0.001), and reduced PLR (139.4 ± 160.0 vs. 259.9 ± 278.0; p < 0.001) compared to dogs with other splenic lesions. This study also identified a higher risk of relapse and mortality associated with increased NRR (p < 0.001 and p = 0.012, respectively) and an inverse relationship with PLR (p = 0.015 and p = 0.033, respectively), whereas NLR showed no significant association. The multivariate survival analysis identified NRR as an independent prognostic factor for DFI [hazard ratio (1.837); 95% confidence interval (1.147–2.942); p = 0.011], while for OS, the association did not reach statistical significance [hazard ratio (1.510); 95% confidence interval (0.985–2.314); p = 0.059]. These findings highlight the potential of NRR and PLR as biomarkers for assessing diagnosis and prognosis in canine splenic HSA, advocating for further validation in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Focus on Tumours in Pet Animals: 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 1139 KiB  
Article
Pilot Study of a Novel First-Line Protocol (THOP) for Intermediate–Large B-Cell Lymphoma in Dogs
by Alejandra Tellez Silva, Ester Yang, Marlie Nightengale, Nikolaos Dervisis and Shawna Klahn
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(3), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12030251 - 6 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1046
Abstract
The current standard of care for treatment of intermediate–large B-cell lymphoma in dogs is a CHOP-based chemotherapy protocol. On-protocol disease progression is reported to be temporally associated with cyclophosphamide administration. The objectives of this prospective pilot clinical trial were to describe the adverse [...] Read more.
The current standard of care for treatment of intermediate–large B-cell lymphoma in dogs is a CHOP-based chemotherapy protocol. On-protocol disease progression is reported to be temporally associated with cyclophosphamide administration. The objectives of this prospective pilot clinical trial were to describe the adverse event profile and identify early signal of efficacy of a novel cyclophosphamide-free chemotherapy protocol consisting of temozolomide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (THOP) as first-line treatment in dogs with diffuse large cell B-cell lymphoma. Treatment-naïve dogs with intermediate–large B-cell lymphoma were enrolled. THOP was administered as a three-week cycle for five cycles. Fourteen dogs were enrolled. All dogs achieved complete remission with a median time to progression (TTP) of 269 days and a median survival of 433 days. There were five grade III and four grade IV hematologic toxicities reported; one grade III gastrointestinal toxicity was observed. THOP appears to be well tolerated and an effective first-line protocol for the treatment of intermediate–large B-cell lymphoma in dogs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Focus on Tumours in Pet Animals: 2nd Edition)
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10 pages, 2272 KiB  
Article
Early Enhancement in Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography Is an Index of DUSP9, SLPI, ALDH1L2, and SLC1A1 Expression in Canine Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Preliminary Study
by Toshiyuki Tanaka, Tomoki Motegi, Nanami Sumikawa, Misaki Mori, Shohei Kurokawa and Hideo Akiyoshi
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(2), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12020137 - 7 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1067
Abstract
Canine hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by distinct computed tomography (CT) findings. HCC exhibits tumor heterogeneity, with different genomic information and histopathological features within the same tumor. In human HCC, genetic alterations affect the prognosis and treatment, and research has begun to assess [...] Read more.
Canine hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by distinct computed tomography (CT) findings. HCC exhibits tumor heterogeneity, with different genomic information and histopathological features within the same tumor. In human HCC, genetic alterations affect the prognosis and treatment, and research has begun to assess genetic alterations using minimally invasive and reproducible CT. However, the relationship between CT findings and the genomic information of canine HCC is unknown. Early contrast of HCC indicates increased intratumoral neovascular growth. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between enhancement patterns in the arterial phase of CT imaging and gene expression in canine HCC using RNA sequencing. Based on the CT findings, three of the eight dogs studied were classified as having enhancement HCC and five as having non-enhancement HCC. RNA sequencing was performed using the mRNA extracted from the specimens. Eight differentially expressed genes met the cutoff criteria. Among these, DUSP9, SLPI, and ALDH1L2 were the most upregulated genes in enhancement HCC, whereas SLC1A1 was the most downregulated in non-enhancement HCC. Canine HCC may involve different angiogenesis mechanisms. CT findings can be used to assess the gene expression status in canine HCC and may add new value to CT imaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Focus on Tumours in Pet Animals: 2nd Edition)
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7 pages, 1487 KiB  
Case Report
A Massive Adenoma of the Uterine Tube in a Young Intact Female Dog: Surgical Intervention and Outcome
by Kazuyuki Terai, Ryou Tanaka, Aki Takeuchi, Kazumi Shimada, Miki Hirose, Aimi Yokoi, Ikki Mitsui and Lina Hamabe
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(3), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12030253 - 7 Mar 2025
Viewed by 647
Abstract
Tumors originating from the uterine tube are exceedingly rare in dogs, with limited clinical and therapeutic data available. This report illustrates a case of a uterine tube adenoma in a one-year-and-two-month-old intact female Pomeranian presented with severe abdominal distension. Diagnostic imaging revealed a [...] Read more.
Tumors originating from the uterine tube are exceedingly rare in dogs, with limited clinical and therapeutic data available. This report illustrates a case of a uterine tube adenoma in a one-year-and-two-month-old intact female Pomeranian presented with severe abdominal distension. Diagnostic imaging revealed a large abdominal mass compressing the left kidney, suspected to originate from the female reproductive organs. Surgical excision of the mass, accompanied by ovariohysterectomy, was performed without complications. The tumor, measuring 30 cm in diameter and weighing 1.086 kg, accounted for 28% of the dog’s body weight. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of benign uterine tube adenoma with no evidence of vascular invasion. The dog experienced no postoperative complications and remained tumor-free for over 912 days post-surgery. This case highlights the possibility of uterine tube tumors developing even at a young age and reaching significant sizes without overt clinical signs. While diagnostic findings were unable to identify the precise tissue origin, surgical excision was an effective treatment, even for this large-sized tumor. The findings of this case underscore the importance of including uterine tube tumors in differential diagnoses for female reproductive mass lesions. Further case accumulation is necessary to expand our understanding of this rare condition in dogs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Focus on Tumours in Pet Animals: 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 3138 KiB  
Case Report
Evaluation of a Novel Cisplatin Poloxamer Gel Formulation in the Treatment of Incompletely Excised Soft-Tissue Sarcomas: 42 Dogs
by Nicholas Lai, Veronika Langova, Penny Thomas, Sandra Nguyen, Johanna Todd, Joe Herbert and John Edward Blaxill
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(3), 202; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12030202 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 565
Abstract
Soft-tissue sarcomas are a heterogenous group of mesenchymal tumours that occur in dogs. Complete surgical excision is the ideal treatment for this tumour, but often, the location of the tumour makes this challenging, and the morbidity and cost of such a procedure may [...] Read more.
Soft-tissue sarcomas are a heterogenous group of mesenchymal tumours that occur in dogs. Complete surgical excision is the ideal treatment for this tumour, but often, the location of the tumour makes this challenging, and the morbidity and cost of such a procedure may be prohibitive. This study describes the use of intralesional cisplatin in a novel poloxamer gel formulation, injected into the tumour bed as an adjuvant treatment to try and lower rates of local recurrence following incomplete and marginal excision. This formulation of cisplatin transiently solidifies at body temperature and exposes the tumour bed to high concentrations of this cytotoxic drug. An overall recurrence rate of 36% (15/42) was recorded in this cohort, with recurrence more likely to occur in tumours that had previously recurred and in larger (≥50 mm) tumours. Whilst this drug formulation is easy to administer and is well tolerated, subsequent use should be weighed against other adjuvant options. Other clinical utilisations of poloxamers in veterinary oncology should be explored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Focus on Tumours in Pet Animals: 2nd Edition)
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