Canine sarcomas as a surrogate for the human disease

Area of Science:

• Comparative oncology
• Translational cancer research
• One Health initiative

Background:

• Cancer significantly impacts pet dogs, causing approximately 30% of deaths.
• Naturally occurring canine cancers, especially sarcomas, are increasingly studied for medical insights.
• The One Health initiative promotes collaboration between human and animal health research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the incidence, pathology, molecular characteristics, and translational studies of sarcomas in dogs.
• To highlight the potential of canine cancer models in preclinical drug development.
• To underscore the value of studying spontaneous canine tumors for human health advancements.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on canine sarcomas.
• Analysis of pathological and molecular characteristics of canine tumors.
• Examination of previous translational therapeutic studies in canine cancer.

Main Results:

• Dogs exhibit a higher incidence of sarcomas compared to humans, making them valuable models.
• Canine osteosarcoma has informed surgical approaches for pediatric osteosarcoma.
• Understanding canine sarcoma characteristics can enhance drug development and clinical trials.

Conclusions:

• Naturally occurring canine sarcomas provide a robust platform for evaluating anticancer therapies.
• Data from canine cancer studies can supplement preclinical data and support human clinical investigations.
• Studying canine cancers contributes significantly to the One Health approach in medical research.