The path to discover and perfect new cancer treatments is long and expensive. It can take more than a decade and cost over $2 billion to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a new therapeutic before it reaches the marketplace. To expedite the process, researchers are thinking outside the box—or rather, outside their own species. The concept of comparative medicine (i.e. One Medicine) has great potential to accelerate the development of new cancer treatments. By examining the similarities and differences in biology among different species (e.g. dogs and humans), we gain increased understanding of the mechanisms of disease in each. This comparative medicine model, as demonstrated in the field of neuro-oncology by the Comparative Brain Tumor Consortium (CBTC), has already shown promising results.

Launched by the Comparative Oncology Program (COP) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 2015, CBTC comprises veterinarians, physicians, and basic researchers who have joined forces to improve outcomes for dogs and humans affected by brain cancer by using more predictive and accurate preclinical models. Laboratory animal models don't always adequately mimic the complex genetic, biologic, and environmental conditions of the human experience. Dogs get many of the same spontaneous cancers as humans, and their genome is similar to that of humans. They also are our closet companions and share our environments, including food and water. The original meeting of the CBTC established a collaborative research network to share experiences and knowledge, defined a working group structure for the invited multidisciplinary experts in attendance, and outlined project goals for each working group. A white paper describing the original dialogue and plan for collaboration was published in the journal, Neuro-Oncology.¹

Over the last four years, CBTC has made progress in advancing our knowledge of canine brain tumors, bringing together human and veterinary oncologists and pathologists, among other specialists. The following is an update from each of its five working groups:

Pathology and molecular markers

With financial support from the American Kennel Club's Canine Health Foundation (CHF), the pathology and molecular markers working group convened a glioma pathology board to review a large collection of canine glioma biopsy samples and describe the clinical and pathologic features of these tumors. The board created an atlas of microscopic features that allows researchers at different institutions to have a consistent discussion about the disease, as well as compare and contrast its features in dogs and humans. It also updated the classification system used to describe canine gliomas and published the Revised Diagnostic Classification of Canine Gliomas in 2018.² CBTC hopes this updated microscopic description system, combined with future molecular and genetic information, will revolutionize the diagnosis of canine gliomas and help in translational understanding of this cancer between dogs and people.