Comparative oncology in action: vignettes on small molecule development

Abstract Comparative oncology is the study of naturally-occurring cancer in companion (pet) animals, mainly dogs, and is a powerful tool in cancer research and drug development. Comparative oncology clinical trials are defined by their translational value to human cancer research through unique opportunities to evaluate in vivo target modulation, drug tolerability, pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) relationships, and identification of translatable biomarkers for drug response. In this manuscript we review specific examples of how comparative oncology clinical trials, built upon and designed to supplement conventional preclinical datasets, have led directly to human clinical development and eventual approval. In doing so, provide a facile reference for those unfamiliar with canine comparative oncology trials and their link to human cancer drug development, inclusive of their purpose, design elements and data interpretation.