Researchers have made a groundbreaking achievement by creating the world's largest open-source database of canine and feline tumours, containing over one million records. This achievement is a significant step forward in understanding the factors that influence the risk of pets developing cancer. The team, comprising experts in veterinary pathology, epidemiology, data science, and clinical practice, has developed a unified resource by working with veterinary diagnostic laboratories and applying advanced methods for extracting and standardizing diagnostic data. 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 standardized data to explore patterns previously hidden by fragmented reporting. This resource is a major step towards better understanding cancer risk in pets, allowing for better identification of breed-related risks and the potential influence of neutering practices on cancer risks. The scale of the data also opens new possibilities for exploring the genetic basis of these cancers. This achievement is a leading step forward in animal medicine, and the team plans to expand the registry by collaborating with additional laboratories and continuing to collect data in real-time.
