Comparative oncology research is gaining
traction as a method for streamlining the
drug discovery and development strategies currently in place worldwide. This approach uses the
tumor-bearing pet dog as a relevant and complementary model alongside the traditional use of rodents, no-human primates, and other large mammalian species such as purpose-bred dogs or pigs. To date, most comparative oncology studies have been designed and executed to evaluate new anticancer drugs using
tumor-bearing dogs with specific naturally occurring
cancers as models for humans. These studies have proved extremely valuable for modeling pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships, refining
drug doses and schedules, and validating an individual
drug's target in vivo. The National Cancer Institute's Comparative Oncology Trials Consortium (http://ccr.
cancer.gov/resources/cop/
COTC.asp) is a cooperative effort that provides infrastructure and resources to support this effort. To
complement ongoing efforts in this field, we propose expansion of comparative
cancer imaging as a component to
drug discovery and development. Diagnostic imaging is critical to diagnosis and management of
malignancy in both humans and animals. Molecular imaging techniques allow for detection of disease-specific signals that provide individualized data to aid in patient selection, response to
therapy, and prognostication. In this review, we will highlight the comparative oncology studies that have used molecular imaging techniques, demonstrating the value of spontaneous canine
cancers as a research tool in
drug and imaging agent development.