Three Universities to Provide Canine Cancer Tissue Samples

MADISON, WISC. - 12/8/06 - The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University and The Ohio State University won bids to collect canine cancer specimens for a centralized tissue repository.

The samples will be stored at the National Cancer Institute in Maryland as part of a new Canine Comparative Oncology Genomics Consortium. Cancer samples to be collected include osteosarcoma, lymphoma and melanoma.

Both dogs and humans are expected to benefit. The sheer volume of samples in the repository will make it easier to study canine cancers and will also enhance efforts to learn more about human cancers through studying their canine counterparts.

“There are a lot of similarities between dog and human cancers,” says Dr. David Vail, a veterinary oncologist at Wisconsin's School of Veterinary Medicine. “The goal of this consortium is to advance our knowledge base regarding cancer in general. By creating a repository, high quality tissue samples will be available to researchers, and a larger pool of samples increases the likelihood of cancer target discovery.”

The tissue and blood samples will be collected from companion (pet) dogs as part of their diagnostic or surgical workup at the veterinary medical centers involved.

The Consortium will make samples from its collection available to researchers by application, subject to a scientific review process to ensure tissues are being used in the best way. Ultimately, the consortium expects to recruit a total of 10 sample providers, with a goal of collecting samples from 3,000 dogs with cancer over the next three years.