New cancer study aims to help both animals and humans

Photo: IoaBal/Adobe Stock

A team of United Kingdom investigators will study oronasal mucosal melanoma (OMM) for the benefit of canines and humans. The product is funded with £250,000— about $342,300 USD—in support from donations to the Humanimal Trust’s Cancer Discovery Fund.^1,2

OMM is the most common oral cancer in canines, yet this aggressive neoplasm is rare in humans. However, there are similarities in biology, clinical presentation and histopathological features between the canine disease and human OMM.³

Dogs with OMM survive less than a year, on average, according to the Humanimal Trust. Breeds at higher risk of the disease include poodles, golden retrievers, labradors, rottweilers, Yorkshire terriers, cocker spaniels, chow-chows, Scottish terriers and dachshunds.¹

“Cancer does not discriminate between species. Approximately 1 in 4 dogs, 1 in 3 cats, and as many as 1 in 2 humans will develop cancer during their lifetime. Thanks to our generous supporters, we’re able to fund this vital research that will advance our understanding of cancer in both humansandanimals, ensuring all species benefit equally and simultaneously, something we call reciprocity,” Joe Bailey, CEO of Humanimal Trust, said in a news release.¹

According to the Humanimal Trust, the disease behaves almost identical across species. Surgery is frequently used for treatment and can be combined with radiotherapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. The OMM study funded by the charity has the potential to transform the OMM treatment landscape for both dogs and humans, according to the Humanimal Trust.²

The project will be led by investigators from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and NHS Lothian, a Scottish health organization. At the University of Edinburgh;, Kelly Blacklock, PhD, BVM&S, DECVS, SFHEA, PGCert, FRCVS, a professor of small animal soft tissue surgery; E. Elizabeth Patton, group leader and personal chair of chemical genetics; and Mark Stares, senior clinical research fellow and honorary consultant in medical oncology; will lead the project.¹

“This research builds on work made possible by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, whose support has been pivotal in advancing our understanding of comparative oncology. With the backing of Humanimal Trust, we are now in a position to take this work further, which has the potential to directly benefit both dogs and people,” Blacklock, said in a news release.¹

One previous study led by Blacklock evaluated whether canine OMM could inform a human disease equivalent. Investigators found a conceptional advance that canine OMM and human OMM are the same disease from 2 subtypes.⁴

“These 2 distinct transcriptional subtypes have potential therapeutic implications… Our findings are important for personalized therapeutics for individual patients and for facilitating patient stratification that may inform clinical trial design and outcomes,” the study’s authors wrote in The Journal of Pathology.⁴

The Humanimal Trust was founded by Irish veterinary surgeon Noel Fitzpatrick, MVB DSc(Hon), DUniv, CertSAO, CertVR, DACVSMR, DECVSMR, DSS (Orth), MRCVS, a founding partner of the school of veterinary medicine at Surrey University School of Veterinary Medicine in Guidford, England, and managing director of the Fitzpatrick Referrals.⁵ The Cancer Discovery Fund was launched in 2024, and the OMM project reflects a milestone for the charity and its mission of advancing medical research for all species.¹

“This research project is a shining example of One Medicine in action: collaborative, inclusive science that embraces the biological connections we all share, rather than focusing on the differences. By breaking down the barriers between human and veterinary medicine, we can speed up progress for everyone—creating a future where no life is left behind,” Fitzpatrick said in a news release.¹

References

1. UK charity launches pioneering cancer research to help humans and dogs. News release. September 17, 2025.
2. Humanimal Trust launches pioneering cancer research to help humans and dogs. Humanimal Trust. September 17, 2025. Accessed September 17, 2025. https://humanimaltrust.org.uk/humanimal-trust-launches-pioneering-cancer-research-to-help-humans-and-dogs/
3. Dagli MLZ, Nagamine MK, Ikeda TL, et al. Identification of mutations in canine oral mucosal melanomas by exome sequencing and comparison with human melanomas. Sci Rep. October 15, 2024. Accessed September 17, 2025. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-74748-z
4. Blacklock KLB, Donnelly K, Lu Y, et al. Oronasal mucosal melanoma is defined by two transcriptional subtypes in humans and dogs with implications for diagnosis and therapy. J Pathol. 2025;265(3):245-259. doi:10.1002/path.6377
5. Professor Noel Fitzpatrick. Humanimal Trust. Accessed September 17, 2025. https://humanimaltrust.org.uk/professor-noel-fitzpatrick-2/