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 1598

Special Issue Editors


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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
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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

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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-blind 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.

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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 (2 papers)

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Research

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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
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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
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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 1023
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
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