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Animals
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Tumors in Companion Animals: Detection, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment
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Tumors in Companion Animals: Detection, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Clinical Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 5289

Editors

Prof. Dr. Sang-Ik Park

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
Interests: veterinary pathology; tumor diagnosis and classification; prognostic and molecular evaluation; comparative oncology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Seung-Hyun Kim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
KSH Surgical Animal Medical Center, Gwangju 61617, Republic of Korea
Interests: precision veterinary surgery; surgical outcome optimization; multimodal perioperative management; companion animal orthopedic surgery; companion animal surgical oncology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tumors in companion animals represent a growing clinical and research concern, requiring multidisciplinary collaboration across diagnostic pathology, oncology, and surgery. This Special Issue aims to present recent advances in the detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of neoplastic diseases in dogs, cats, and other companion species.

We invite original research articles, reviews, and case reports focusing on innovative diagnostic tools, imaging and molecular techniques, prognostic markers, and therapeutic approaches, including surgical, chemotherapeutic, and immunomodulatory interventions. Studies addressing treatment outcomes, survival analysis, and translational perspectives linking veterinary and human oncology are particularly encouraged.

By integrating diagnostic innovations with clinical and therapeutic evidence, this Special Issue seeks to enrich the current literature and provide a practical and scientific reference for veterinarians, researchers, and clinicians dedicated to improving cancer management and quality of life in companion animals.

Prof. Dr. Sang-Ik Park
Dr. Seung-Hyun Kim
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • companion animals
  • veterinary oncology
  • tumor diagnosis
  • prognosis
  • treatment outcomes
  • surgical on-cology
  • therapeutic strategies
  • translational research
  • molecular diagnostics

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 4457 KB  
Article
Integrated Biomarker Assessment for Prognosis in Canine Mammary Carcinomas: Complementary Roles of Serum CA 15-3 and Immunohistochemistry Ki-67, and COX-2
by Breno Queiroz Pinheiro, Marcely Braga de Albuquerque, Francisco Emanuel Pinheiro Cavalcante, Isabela Reis Barroso do Nascimento, Fernanda Rezende Souza, Augusto Manuel Rodrigues Faustino and Lúcia Daniel Machado da Silva
Animals 2026, 16(14), 2208; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16142208 - 16 Jul 2026
Viewed by 687
Abstract
CMTs are biologically heterogeneous neoplasms for which reliable prognostic biomarkers remain limited. This study investigated the clinical significance of serum cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) and the immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in CMTs. Fifty-four female dogs with histologically confirmed CMTs [...] Read more.
CMTs are biologically heterogeneous neoplasms for which reliable prognostic biomarkers remain limited. This study investigated the clinical significance of serum cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) and the immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in CMTs. Fifty-four female dogs with histologically confirmed CMTs and twelve healthy controls were prospectively evaluated. Serum CA 15-3 concentrations were measured before surgery and at 21 and 90 days post-mastectomy, while Ki-67 and COX-2 expression were assessed in tumor tissues. CA 15-3 was undetectable in controls and significantly higher in malignant than benign neoplasms (p < 0.05), with moderate correlations with clinical stage (s = 0.59), histological grade (s = 0.64), and the number of nodules (s = 0.42). Levels remained elevated in advanced stages despite surgery. ROC analysis identified a CA 15-3 cutoff of 3.01 IU/mL (AUC = 0.92) for discriminating malignant from benign tumors. Ki-67 correlated with histological grade (ρ = 0.41) but showed limited prognostic accuracy (AUC = 0.63). COX-2 expression lacked significant associations and showed poor discriminatory power (AUC = 0.44). Survival analyses did not identify significant differences among groups. Principal component analysis demonstrated clustering of aggressive CMTs according to biomarker profile. These findings suggest that serum CA 15-3 may represent a useful adjunct prognostic biomarker in canine mammary oncology, while the combination of serum and tissue biomarkers may improve prognostic stratification and may guide therapeutic decision-making in veterinary oncology. These findings support the growing role of biomarker panels in the clinical management of CMTs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tumors in Companion Animals: Detection, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment)
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10 pages, 783 KB  
Communication
Effects of Conventional and Ozonated Autohemotherapy as Adjuvant Treatment in Dogs with Transmissible Venereal Tumor (TVT)
by Neusvaldo de Medeiros Caldas Júnior, André Sampaio Calheiros, Keityane de Oliveira e Silva, Danillo de Souza Pimentel, Márcia Kikuyo Notomi and Pierre Barnabé Escodro
Animals 2026, 16(12), 1913; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16121913 - 20 Jun 2026
Viewed by 426
Abstract
Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) is a contagious neoplasm affecting dogs, commonly treated with vincristine sulfate, although this protocol may be associated with adverse effects and the need for multiple therapeutic sessions. In this context, adjuvant therapies have been investigated to optimize clinical outcomes. [...] Read more.
Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) is a contagious neoplasm affecting dogs, commonly treated with vincristine sulfate, although this protocol may be associated with adverse effects and the need for multiple therapeutic sessions. In this context, adjuvant therapies have been investigated to optimize clinical outcomes. This study evaluated the effect of conventional and ozonated autohemotherapy on the number of chemotherapy sessions required to achieve complete remission of TVT. Fifteen dogs with a confirmed diagnosis were randomly allocated into three groups: control (vincristine, n = 5), conventional autohemotherapy associated with vincristine (AHTm, n = 5), and ozonated autohemotherapy associated with vincristine (AHTmO3, n = 5). The animals were evaluated weekly through clinical, cytological, hematological, and biochemical examinations. The primary outcome was the number of sessions required to achieve complete remission. A significant reduction was observed in the AHTm (p = 0.032) and AHTmO3 (p = 0.008) groups compared to the control group. No differences were found in laboratory parameters. The findings suggest that autohemotherapy, particularly in its ozonated form, may serve as a promising adjuvant strategy. However, studies with larger sample sizes are needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tumors in Companion Animals: Detection, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment)
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18 pages, 4702 KB  
Article
Pilot Study of Partial Tumor Ablation Using Thermal High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) in Feline Soft Tissue Sarcomas
by Lauren Ruger, Ester Yang, Sheryl Coutermarsh-Ott, Marlie Nightengale, Andy Hsueh, Elliana R. Vickers, Brittany Ciepluch, Eli Vlaisavljevich, Nikolaos Dervisis and Shawna Klahn
Animals 2026, 16(10), 1530; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16101530 - 16 May 2026
Viewed by 1209
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are locally invasive and aggressive tumors that occur spontaneously in humans, dogs, and cats. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive ablation technology that has been explored in canine but not feline STS. The objective of this pilot study [...] Read more.
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are locally invasive and aggressive tumors that occur spontaneously in humans, dogs, and cats. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive ablation technology that has been explored in canine but not feline STS. The objective of this pilot study was to determine the in vivo safety and feasibility of HIFU ablation for feline STS and to investigate the impact of HIFU on the acute immunological response. Client-owned cats diagnosed with spontaneous STS were recruited. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest, abdomen, and tumor were performed prior to treatment for staging and treatment planning. A commercially available HIFU unit (Echopulse, Theraclion, Malakoff, France) was used to target portions of solid tumors before standard-of-care surgical resection. Ablation efficacy and local immunological response were characterized using histopathological and immunohistochemical assessments. Acute safety was monitored with physical examinations, owner reports, and CBC/serum biochemistry. Multiplex serum cytokine levels were used to evaluate the systemic immune response. A total of three cats diagnosed with STS were recruited and treated. No significant adverse events attributed to HIFU treatment were noted in this pilot study. In treated areas, hemorrhage as well as coagulative and lytic necrosis were observed microscopically and were more extensive than in untreated tissues. There was a statistically significant difference in the level of serum MCP-1 after HIFU treatment, but no significant changes in any other analytes. No differences in the infiltration of CD3-, CD79a-, or IBA1-positive cells were noted between treated and untreated samples. Overall, findings suggested that HIFU may offer a viable alternative to conventional therapies for feline STS, with pilot results showing effective tumor ablation in cats with STS without significant adverse events. Some preliminary evidence of immunomodulation following treatment was observed, but HIFU as an immunotherapeutic treatment option needs to be further investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tumors in Companion Animals: Detection, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment)
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Review

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26 pages, 385 KB  
Review
Mapping the Kinase Inhibitor Landscape in Canine Mammary Carcinoma: Current Status and Future Opportunities
by Małgorzata Chmielewska-Krzesińska
Animals 2026, 16(2), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16020232 - 13 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2226
Abstract
Background: Canine mammary carcinoma (CMC) is the most common malignant tumour in female dogs and, due to its similarities, is a valuable comparative model for human breast cancer. Kinase inhibitors have revolutionised the treatment of human breast cancer; their use in veterinary [...] Read more.
Background: Canine mammary carcinoma (CMC) is the most common malignant tumour in female dogs and, due to its similarities, is a valuable comparative model for human breast cancer. Kinase inhibitors have revolutionised the treatment of human breast cancer; their use in veterinary oncology remains marginal. Aim: This review summarises the current knowledge of kinase signalling pathways in CMC and assesses which kinase inhibitors approved for human use have potential in veterinary medicine. Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed database from 1985 to 2025 was performed, focusing on kinase-targeted therapies in both human and canine mammary carcinomas. Data were categorised according to molecular target, clinical approval status, and available preclinical or clinical veterinary evidence. Results: Key molecular pathways targeted by kinase inhibitors are conserved across species, supporting translational opportunities. In vitro studies demonstrate that palbociclib, alpelisib, everolimus, and lapatinib inhibit growth and signalling in CMC cell lines. Clinical trials have not been conducted. Conclusions: Approved kinase inhibitors for human use have untapped therapeutic potential in veterinary oncology. Translational research, including xenograft and organoid models, followed by clinical trials in dogs, is required. Gaining this knowledge could lead to targeted treatment for dogs while advancing comparative understanding of mammary cancer biology across species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tumors in Companion Animals: Detection, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment)
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