Veterinary Oncology

Advancing veterinary cancer care by the One Medicine approach

We integrate expert oncological care for veterinary patients with innovative research that encompasses fundamental, pre-clinical, and clinical studies. Our focus is on comparative oncology—advancing cancer diagnosis and treatment in veterinary patients while translating these insights to accelerate cancer research and drive progress across species.

Immunofluorescence image of an organoid derived from a canine tumor showing differentiated chromaffin cells in red and cell nuclei in blue.

Endocrine Oncology

Our endocrine oncology research primarily focusses on adrenal and pituitary tumors. While these tumors are considered rare in humans, they are more prevalent in dogs and cats, offering a unique access to a genetically diverse pool of rare cancer samples. This enables the accelerated development of advanced model systems, such as tumor-derived organoids. These systems allow us to explore novel treatment strategies and to gain deeper insights into tumor pathogenesis. Studying endocrine tumors in veterinary patients can bridge the gaps in the research of rare cancers and benefit both human and veterinary medicine.

Veterinary patients provide a unique translational model in cancer research

Radiation therapy is administered for therapeutic purposes in patients and can also be utilized in clinical and experimental research.

Medical and Radiation Oncology

The medical oncology team investigates a wide range of cancers including lymphoma, mast cell tumors, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, osteosarcoma, and brain tumors. These naturally occurring tumors serve as highly relevant biological models for comparative oncology to study how cancer develops, progresses in natural settings, and responds to treatment. Our focus lies in advancing and refining current diagnostic and non-surgical therapeutic strategies, while also driving the development and clinical evaluation of novel diagnostic and treatment approaches. Our comprehensive medical therapies include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, all available through the UU Animal Cancer Center.

Our ultimate goal is to improve cancer care for pets and their owners

Neuro-navigated needle-injection of radioactive holmium microspheres into tumor using image-guidance (CT scan), which ensures accurate administration of microspheres into the tumor.
Neuro-navigated needle-injection of radioactive holmium microspheres into tumor using image-guidance (CT scan), which ensures accurate administration of microspheres into the tumor.

Surgical and interventional oncology

We join forces with experts in medicine, radionuclide therapy, imaging, and engineering to develop a high-tech imaging-guided needle-based approach for delivering high local doses of radiation to solid tumors in dogs and cats that are difficult to treat. The development of this novel treatment offers veterinary patients an otherwise unavailable therapeutic option. The unique treatment model of spontaneous cancer can also significantly accelerate the path towards treatment of human patients.

Imaging-guided microbrachytherapy – a successful One Medicine collaboration

Group members