- Veterinary Microbiome Collection: Bank stores faecal, plasma and serum samples from canine and feline cancer patients.
- Future Multi-Omics Research: Biospecimens will support DNA, RNA and metabolomic oncology studies.
- Comparative Cancer Research Platform: Findings may improve veterinary treatments and contribute to human oncology insights.
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in the UK has recently launched a dedicated Oncobiome Bank designed to collect and preserve microbiome samples from dogs and cats diagnosed with cancer. Supported by funding from the RVC Animal Care Trust, the initiative will provide researchers with access to veterinary oncology biospecimens to investigate how intestinal microorganisms influence cancer development, treatment responses and long-term outcomes in companion animals.
The intestinal microbiome, which includes bacteria, viruses and fungi residing in the gut, has become an increasingly important focus in human oncology research. Studies in people have demonstrated links between gut health, immune responses, cancer risk and therapeutic outcomes. However, similar relationships remain significantly underexplored in veterinary medicine, highlighting the need for dedicated veterinary biobanking infrastructure.
Building a Veterinary Oncology Biospecimen Resource
The RVC Oncobiome Bank will store residual faecal, plasma and serum samples collected from canine and feline cancer patients during diagnosis by the institution’s Oncology team, which manages more than 1,500 small animal oncology cases annually. The repository is expected to support future DNA, RNA and metabolomic research examining how cancer and cancer therapies alter the gut microbiome.
Researchers also plan to investigate whether microbiome changes influence treatment responses, recovery and disease progression. The bank is additionally intended to support emerging veterinary oncology approaches including dietary interventions, probiotics and faecal microbiota transplantation.
Advancing Comparative Oncology Research
Because many cancers in dogs and cats share biological similarities with human cancers, findings from the Oncobiome Bank may contribute to broader comparative oncology research. Insights generated through the resource could improve understanding of cancer biology and therapeutic responses across both veterinary and human medicine.
Dr Andy Yale stated, “The role of the microbiome in veterinary oncology is still in its infancy and represents a largely unexplored frontier.” He further noted that the establishment of the resource is intended to support larger-scale and clinically meaningful studies that may ultimately translate into improved care for veterinary cancer patients.
Expanding Europe’s Veterinary Biobanking Infrastructure
According to the RVC, the Oncobiome Bank is believed to be the first dedicated veterinary oncobiome bank in both the UK and Europe. The initiative expands the institution’s growing veterinary biobanking network, which already includes the Companion Animal Brain Bank, the Canine Pericardial Effusion Biobank, the RVC Cancer Biobank and the SUB (subcutaneous ureteral bypass) biobank.
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