Page 6 - Clinical Connections - Spring 2023

RVC RESEARCH STUDY VETERINARY SERVICES RVC.AC.UK
Pathology

STOMACH CANCER IN SMALL ANIMALS:
THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EARLY DIAGNOSIS

Alejandro Suarez-Bonnet, Lecturer in Comparative Pathology, Alexandros Chardas, Lecturer in
Anatomic Pathology and Simon L Priestnall, Professor of Veterinary Anatomic Pathology
ancer is a leading cause of death gastric cancer, there is no definitive cause Improving prognosis
in companion animals. Animals will so far identified in cats and dogs. Both Overall, after diagnosis, the median survival
C succumb to the disease in cases genetic and environmental factors are likely times does not usually exceed three to four
where treatment options are scarce or to play a key role in its appearance and months, but an early diagnosis plus surgical
when a late diagnosis greatly reduces the progression. and medical treatment (chemotherapy)
possibilities to perform surgery or provide Chronic gastritis has been reported to be could extend the survival time up to four
adequate medical treatment. associated with the appearance of stomach years. For this reason, an early diagnosis,
Equally, as quality of life and veterinary cancer in dogs. Consequently, if a patient as occurs in humans, is essential to improve
care has improved in the last 40 years, develops any of the previously described the prognosis and expand the disease-free
the frequency of cancer diagnosis has clinical signs a detailed clinical examination period of patients with gastric cancer.
soared, and consequently our patients should be performed, which could include
and their owners require a proportionate direct examination of the mucosa by
response to provide a fast and accurate endoscopy.
histopathological diagnosis, facilitating the At the time of the endoscopy, the
best clinical decision-making process. veterinary surgeon can observe the gastric
Gastric (stomach) cancer is uncommon in mucosa and appreciate any abnormalities,
dogs and cats, but its true prevalence may such as erosions, ulcerations or masses. If
be higher because the disease produces any morphological abnormality is observed, Figure 2: A microscopic image of a canine
gastric carcinoma.
non-specific clinical signs. These include, the endoscope is used to take biopsies that
chronic intermittent vomiting, progressive will allow the pathologist to diagnose what The RVC’s Diagnostic Pathology
weight loss and poor appetite. Consequently, kind of lesion is present and to differentiate Service is keen to receive histopathological
the diagnosis occurs when the disease is at between a pure inflammatory process and a samples, endoscopic biopsies, or full-
an advanced stage. cancerous lesion. thickness biopsies from patients with clinical
Researchers have identified Unfortunately, gastric carcinomas can be signs of gastrointestinal disease. Our team
predispositions in certain breeds such as difficult to diagnose as they may not form of board-certified veterinary pathologists
rough collies, Staffordshire bull terriers, a true ‘mass’, but rather tumour cells grow has an international reputation in the field
Chows, Belgian shepherds, Norwegian directly in the layers beneath the surface of oncologic pathology and gastrointestinal
lundehunds, cairn terriers, and West mucosa, which cannot be sampled with disease, reflected in the publication
Highland white terriers. endoscopic samples. Where there is a of numerous peer-review scientific
Although the incidence of this tumour suspicion of cancer, based on examination manuscripts.
in dogs is rare, some researchers have of an endoscopic biopsy, or persistent Recently our group has demonstrated
reported increasing rates in recent years. clinical signs, a full-thickness biopsy of the that molecules of interest in human gastric
Unlike in humans, where infection with stomach wall taken surgically would be cancer, such as 14-3-3σ and CD44, are also
the bacteria Helicobacter pylori has been recommended. overexpressed in canine gastric carcinomas.
strongly associated with development of These preliminary results pave the way to
further investigate the development and use
of drugs that specifically target 14-3-3σ and
CD44 in dogs with gastric cancer. Until then,
early clinical investigation and a prompt
diagnosis are key to improve the prognostic
of such cases.
Our turnaround time for all routine
samples is 48 hours from receipt of the
specimen into the laboratory. The report
contains a full ‘board-style’ histological
description, diagnosis and comment, which
is tailored specifically to the case. We are
always keen to follow up cases over the
phone or by email.

For the Diagnostic Pathology Service,
please call:01707 666 208
Figure 1: Endoscopic image of a gastric cancer. The normal stomach mucosa is pale pink, and the Email:
tumour, pointed by arrows, consists of an area of ulcer. Image courtesy of Dr Diego Casas Garcia diagnosticlabs@rvc.ac.uk

6 Spring 2023