Free cancer database available for veterinarians

Cleveland-Dr. H. Steven Steinberg believes he has created an oncologicaldatabase with statistically significant value for veterinarians. The service,www.vetcancerregistry.com, makes available more than 5,000 cancer cases,including contributions from seven universities as well as several privatesites. Steinberg says the free service is growing daily. Steinberg, an ACVIMdiplomate and oncologist, sees a "tremendous weakness" in veterinaryscience that clinical research is published based on only 20 to 30 cases.Steinberg feels these are of "dubious significance." "Inhuman medicine, studies with thousands of individuals are questioned everyday for their conclusions. Think of how that reflects on our knowledge base,"he says. "The editorial boards of our journals have become totallysatisfied with their anecdotal information." With that challenge inmind, he launched the Vet Cancer Registry. "My efforts began in 1994when I tested the waters by developing the International Veterinary BrainTumor Registry (www.ivbtr.com), a Web site that gave users data on morethan 200 brain tumor cases," he explains. The new site can be searchedby breed, cancer type or the animal's weight. Only veterinarians can fillout data sheets and send them to Steinberg. Steinberg has such a strongbelief in the need for the database that he has funded all of it out ofhis own pocket. "It's not that I don't think there is funding available,but I'd like the search engine to stay free." Veterinarians can bothaccess and contribute to the registry by logging on to the Web site.

For fastest response call or visit the Web site at www.vetcancerregistry.com.