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Researchers in Europe have created the world’s largest open-source database of canine and feline tumours, containing more than one million records. This unique resource aims to help transform understanding of factors influencing the risk of pets getting cancer.
The team from the University of Liverpool and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria brings together expertise in veterinary pathology, epidemiology, data science and clinical practice. By working with veterinary diagnostic laboratories and applying advanced methods for extracting and standardising diagnostic data, they have created a unified resource.
The size of the tumour registry makes it possible to study rare cancers and uncommon breeds in meaningful detail for the first time. Researchers worldwide can now access rich and standardised data to explore patterns previously hidden by fragmented reporting.
“This tumour registry is a major step towards better understanding cancer risk in pets,” Professor David Killick said.
“In addition to allowing better identification of breed-related risk of specific tumour types, early analyses have raised the question of how neutering practices may influence risks of particular cancers. The scale of the data also opens new possibilities for exploring the genetic basis of these cancers.”
Jose Rodríguez Torres added, “Analysing cancer diagnoses is well established in human medicine, but similar work in animals has lagged behind due to fragmented data. This study is a leading step forward. With more than 200 breeds and more than 150 tumour types represented, these data can now be explored by researchers worldwide to better understand cancer risk across many tumour–breed combinations.”
The team plans to expand the registry by collaborating with additional laboratories and continues to collect data in real-time.