Page 2 - Clinical Connections - Spring 2024

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Page 2 - Clinical Connections - Spring 2024
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RVC RESEARCH    STUDY    VETERINARY SERVICES       RVC.AC.UK


           quality  are  high,  preserving  the  sample
           quality for decades.
             By  offering  a  standardised  approach  to
           biospecimen collection and archiving, our
           mission  is to accelerate  cancer research
           and  drive  the  development  of  precision
           medicine.  Through the power of linking
           cancer samples with comprehensive patient
           information, we can pave the way for more
           effective, targeted, and less toxic therapies.
             Currently the RVC Cancer Biobank
           contains samples from a total of 69 different
           cancer types.  Although we are collecting
           samples  from  all cancer  types,  we  have
           a particular interest in the collection of
           endocrine cancers, as this is one of the
           focus areas of RVC researchers.

           The Process
           Surgical extirpation of overactive endocrine
           tissue is commonly recommended as a sole
           therapeutic treatment or part of a treatment
           plan.  These tissues  are  used  for  routine   samples which could be stored.   Aims of the RVC Cancer Biobank
           histopathology to confirm diagnosis and aid   The RVC’s Clinical Investigation Centre   Aim  1.  To  create  a  canine  and  feline
           disease staging. There is often a significant   has the laboratory expertise to handle and   endocrine cancer tissue archive / biobank.
           amount of residual tissue following these   store the samples appropriately, allowing   This would be used for various investigations
           procedures, which could be used for   maximal  use of  any residual  samples   performed by RVC research groups,
           research  purposes  rather  than  merely   obtained.  The Diagnostic Laboratories   students and invited colleagues. Over time,
           disposed of.                        Service routinely undertakes post mortem   we strive to make samples from biobank
             In addition, these patients often undergo   investigations,  allowing  collection  of  available to industry partners and scientists
           several diagnostic and monitoring blood and   samples on-site.          at academic institutions around the world.
           urine samples, which would provide residual                             Aim 2. Investigate urine or blood biomarkers
                                                                                   to improve ante-mortem diagnosis of
               Other RVC Biobanks                                                  endocrine disorders and improve diagnosis
             The RVC established a Companion Animal Brain Bank (CABB) in 2019, with the   of affected patients.
             objective of collecting and storing samples of brain tissue and other biological   Aim 3. Better describe feline and canine
             specimens for research and educational purposes. The CABB has successfully   endocrine  cancers,  to  include  routine
             archived 43 brains (31 dogs, and 12 cats) alongside residual samples of blood and   histopathology,  immunohistochemistry  and
             cerebrospinal fluid. The collection of companion animal brain tissue has benefits   possibly also electron microscopy. The aim
             for future patients diagnosed with neurological disease, the attending clinicians,   is  to  improve  tumour  classification,  which
             RVC researchers and the research community as a whole, which can access the   may aid prediction of possible future disease
             brain bank.                                                           recurrence and prognosis.
               The RVC’s Canine Pericardial Effusion Biobank was established in 2022, with   Aim  4.  Investigate  endocrine  tumour
             the aim of enabling pioneering research aimed at developing new diagnostic tests   receptor expression and the molecular
             to help dogs at the RVC and beyond. Since then a number of samples have been   pathways contributing to excessive hormone
             taken from dogs referred to the RVC and research is progressing. The Companion   production and metastatic disease.  These
             Animal Brain Bank and the Canine Pericardial Effusion Biobank were established   findings are essential for the development
             with the support of funding from the RVC Animal Care Trust.           of  medical  treatments  targeting  endocrine
               There is also a SUB biobank. Ureteral obstruction secondary to urolithiasis   tumours.
             is a frequent  cause of  feline kidney injury and necessitates placement of a
             subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) to relieve the obstruction. Despite resolving
             the obstruction, a proportion of cats will be left with chronic kidney disease. The
             factors  involved  in  kidney  recovery  after  a  sudden  injury  are  currently  poorly
             understood and it is challenging to identify patients who will go on to suffer from
             ongoing renal dysfunction. How and when to intervene to encourage complete
             renal recovery after injury is also unclear. The biobank stores residual samples
             of urine and blood from patients that have had a SUB placed. These samples will     For small animal referrals, please call:
                                                                                     01707 666399
             facilitate valuable studies investigating risk factors for development of obstructive     Email:
             ureteral stones, as well as factors involved in recovery from sudden kidney injury.  qmhreception@rvc.ac.uk


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