SOTVMA In-Person Lecture: Deciphering Cancer Screening, Liquid Biopsy, and Precision Medicine in Veterinary Oncology

Presented by: Skylar Sylvester, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

Cancer is the leading cause of death in older dogs, and is often diagnosed at advanced stages of disease, only after it has spread and is causing significant clinical signs. Early detection can lead to better treatment options and outcomes for some cancers. Exciting and powerful new tools like liquid biopsy and tumor genomic testing are becoming available and accessible to veterinarians to complement traditional cancer diagnostics. Liquid biopsy tests for disease biomarkers in blood or other fluids, while genomic testing looks for specific mutations in tumors that can guide diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. As we start incorporating these new diagnostic tools into our practice, it's important to understand how they work, evaluate their effectiveness, and consider how their results can impact patient care.

Learning Objectives:

1. To understand the current benefits and limitations of cancer screening in cats and dogs. 
2. To introduce the concept of liquid biopsy for detecting cancer and its mechanisms, applications, benefits, and limitations. 
3. To practice applying liquid biopsy and precision oncology-based tests to various clinical presentations and cases and interpreting the results.