A team of Edinburgh scientists is developing cutting-edge tools to help improve the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of canine cancer, one of the leading causes of death in dogs.
Technologies being developed by CanCan Diagnostics, a University of Edinburgh spinout, include a blood test to detect and monitor cancer and a tool that enables in-depth DNA analysis of tumours.
The company, spun out from the University in 2022, aims to improve the lives of pets worldwide by bringing advanced science and technology into veterinary practices. The test will soon be available for pets worldwide, with recent distribution agreement covering 47 geographies in mainland Europe, Middle East, Asia-Pacific (APAC) and South America.
Monitoring cancer
CanCan’s K9-LiquiDX test can detect DNA from tumour cells, which is circulating in a dog’s blood, enabling monitoring of disease progression.
It enables dogs affected by cancer to be tested when they are diagnosed to establish a baseline result. This can then be compared with results from future tests to monitor disease progression.
This type of technology – known as liquid biopsy – is commonly used in human oncology but is in its infancy in the veterinary sector. K9-LiquiDX, designed to be used for disease monitoring is believed to be the first test of its kind for dogs.
Tumour sequencing
CanCan has also developed technology for conducting in-depth DNA testing of tumours, an approach that can enable more personalised treatment.
The test, known as K9-TMB/MSI, screens tumour tissue and blood samples for almost 500 genes, providing key insights into a tumour’s behaviour and how it might respond to different treatments.
It is the only commercially available tool that enables such detailed characterisation of the makeup of canine tumours.
Pioneering technologies
CanCan Diagnostics was founded by Dr Maciej Parys, a vet at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
The company has been refining its technologies for several years since the idea for the K9-LiquiDX test was first developed by Dr Parys as part of a project funded by the Dogs Trust charity.
He said: “We are excited about the prospects of CanCan products. For myself as a veterinarian, it’s important that we can make a huge difference in our patients’ lives. The test not only will improve the quality of life of pets, but on top of that provides an unprecedented precision and provides potential new treatment options.”
As well as further optimising their technologies to improve canine cancer care, the CanCan team is also working to develop their approaches for use in other species, including cats.
Commercial venture
Supported by the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service, Edinburgh Innovations, Dr Parys’s team received a Campus Innovation Account Award from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
The team was also awarded a BBSRC ICURe Innovate UK grant to commercialise their technology and spin out into a company.
CanCan recently secured pre-seed funding from Advanced Genomics Limited and a private investor and is currently looking for further investment in their seed round.