Representation of tumour cells

Tumour registry

Tumour registries (TR) provide vital epidemiological insights into cancer risk. Previously we developed a pathology TR (PTR) containing data on ~100,000 canine and feline tumours submitted in one year (publication). Here we will extend this PTR to include over 10 years of data, make technological improvements to enhance sustainability and allow continued real-time data accrual, adding tools for wide-spread research access. We will extend the concept of our existing Virtual Biobank to pilot genomic analyses of cancer biology. The resulting PTR, the largest of its kind, would represent a step-change in our ability to understand pet animal population cancer risk.

The SAVSNET PTR will provide an unparalleled tool for the epidemiological study of cancer occurrence. When launched at the end of the project (2025) the PTR will contain data for over 500,000 tumours providing a globally-leading research database to study longitudinal changes in cancer epidemiology, and identify novel risk factors. The extension of our existing Virtual Biobank to include cancer specimens will allow researchers to collect important samples for enhanced genotypic analyses much more efficiently than might be possible through conventional sampling approaches. Such database and genomic analyses are necessary prerequisites to more targeted diagnostic and therapeutic evaluations.

Male wearing a baseball cap pictured with yellow labrador

SAVSNET hosts a huge amount of veterinary data from pathology records that we will use to shed light over the principal risk factors underlying the different kind of tumours affecting dogs and cats on the UK. We will analyse whether sex, breed, neuter status or geographical location are behind the main diagnosis and trends of cancer providing a useful resource to improve overall health of pets and setting the basics for future and more specific.

Jose Rodríguez Torres. Postdoctoral researcher.

We are extremely grateful to Petplan Charitable Trust for funding this research

Back to: Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET)