Canine Urothelial Carcinoma
Urothelial carcinoma (UC), also known as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), is a malignant bladder tumor that is known to affect humans and canines. In humans, urothelial carcinoma is divided into two categories based on the level of invasion of the muscle wall of the bladder, termed non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), and muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). MIBC in humans is associated with more severe clinical disease and is associated with a poorer long-term prognosis.
Dogs diagnosed with UC often exhibit the MIBC subtype, and diagnosing superficial NMIBC in a canine patient is considered rare. The many similarities of canine and human bladder cancer provide a great opportunity for research that will work towards improving therapeutic outcomes of urothelial carcinoma in man and man’s best friend.
In the SMART Pharmacology lab, we utilize canine urothelial carcinoma organoids as a three-dimensional in vitro model to investigate tumor biology, predict patient responses to chemotherapeutics and radiation therapy, as well as screen new compounds.
