Cancer Across Domestic Animals: A Descriptive Review from the Veterinarian's Perspective

Area of Science:

• Comparative oncology
• Veterinary medicine
• Animal cancer research

Background:

• Cancer, characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, affects numerous species, including domestic animals.
• Existing cross-species cancer research often lacks veterinary expertise and overlooks valuable data from spontaneous animal cancers.
• A One Health-One Cancer approach is crucial for integrating knowledge across disciplines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and discuss published literature on cancer across domestic animal species.
• To analyze factors influencing cancer risk, such as body size, metabolism, environment, and genetics.
• To bridge knowledge gaps between veterinarians, researchers, and human oncologists.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of cancer across domestic animals (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores).
• Analysis of factors influencing cancer risk and resistance across species.
• Synthesis of existing data to identify research gaps and opportunities.

Main Results:

• The veterinary perspective is underrepresented in current cross-species cancer studies.
• Spontaneous animal cancers offer valuable clinical data often not fully utilized.
• Factors like body size, metabolism, environment, and genetics potentially influence cancer risk across species.

Conclusions:

• Integrating veterinary and human oncology perspectives is essential for advancing cancer research.
• Understanding animal cancer mechanisms can lead to improved prevention and treatment strategies for both animals and humans.
• A One Health-One Cancer framework facilitates collaborative efforts for better cancer outcomes.