Companion Animal Model in Translational Oncology; Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Canine Oral Melanoma

Abstract

Companion animals with naturally occurring cancers can provide an advantageous model for cancer research and in particular anticancer drug development. Compared to commonly utilized mouse models, companion animals, specifically dogs and cats, share a closer phylogenetical distance, body size, and genome organization. Most importantly, pets develop spontaneous, rather than artificially induced, cancers. The incidence of cancer in people and companion animals is quite similar and cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years of age. Many cancer types in dogs and cats have similar pathological, molecular, and clinical features to their human counterparts. Drug toxicity and response to anti-cancer treatment in dogs and cats are also similar to those in people. Companion animals share their lives with their owners, including the environmental and socioeconomic cancer-risk factors. In contrast to humans, pets have a shorter life span and cancer progression is often more rapid. Clinical trials in companion animals are cheaper and less time consuming compared to human trials. Dogs and cats with naturally occurring cancers are an ideal and unique model for human cancer research. Model selection for the specific type of cancer is of pivotal importance. Although companion animal models for translational research have been reviewed previously, this review will try to summarize the most important advantages and disadvantages of this model. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma as a model for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and canine oral melanoma as a model for mucosal melanoma and immunotherapy in people will be discussed as examples.

Unraveling the Risk Factors and Etiology of the Canine Oral Mucosal Melanoma: Results of an Epidemiological Questionnaire, Oral Microbiome Analysis and Investigation of Papillomavirus Infection

“…In addition, because domesticated pet dogs in general share their environments with humans, they can be considered good sentinels for environmental contamination that may also affect their owners [ 22 ]. Since OMM in dogs and humans share important characteristics, such as morphology and behavior, and the risk factors and etiology are largely unknown in both species, as stated by Giuliano [ 23 ], we decided to investigate the etiological and risk factors of OMM to contribute to the control of this disease in dogs and humans.…”

“…Spontaneous melanomas in dogs, including OMM, are considered good models of human melanomas [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. In addition, dogs are sentinels of environmental contamination to which humans are exposed [ 22 ] and are good translational models [ 23 ].…”

Characterization of the Expression of Angiogenic Factors in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Domestic Cats

“…A selection of the tumor from its nontumoral periphery in the FFPE slide would produce more tissue-selective results. In addition, we encountered high variability of measured transcript levels, especially in SCC samples, likely due in part to tumor heterogeneity associated with use of samples from outbred animal models in translational cancer research [ 109 ]. Nevertheless, our results encourage further studies into the possible role of VEGF, PLGF, and their receptors in mediating CSCC angiogenesis, progression, and metastasis, and accordingly, the utility of these agents as biomarkers for these critical events in disease.…”

The Sheep as a Large Animal Model for the Investigation and Treatment of Human Disorders

“…Considering now medium-sized animals, dogs and cats are clinically more similar to humans than small animals with respect to brain and body size, prolonged lifespan, inherited and naturally occurring hereditary disorders, and surgical intervention [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. As companion animals, they have the added advantage of living in similar conditions to humans [ 17 , 47 ]. Naturally occurring tumours in cats and dogs make them suitable models for human cancer research [ 47 , 48 ].…”