A groundbreaking study emerging from the University of Missouri is revolutionizing the way veterinarians approach treatment for thyroid cancer in dogs by refining the application of radioactive iodine therapy. By concentrating exclusively on cases treated with this radiopharmaceutical method and combining it with state-of-the-art imaging analysis, researchers have laid the critical foundation for more precise, personalized veterinary oncology.
Charles A. Maitz, an associate professor of radiation oncology at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine, highlights the transformative impact of integrating radiopharmaceuticals with advanced imaging technologies. This integration is enabling the veterinary field to transcend traditional diagnostic methods, providing more detailed insights into tumor biology and behavior. As Maitz explains, these advances particularly elevate the understanding and treatment of canine thyroid cancer, supporting a shift toward more individualized therapeutic strategies.
The study’s novelty lies in its exclusive focus on 32 dogs who received radioactive iodine therapy without the confounding effects of surgery or chemotherapy. This approach allowed the research team to isolate the direct effects of iodine-131 treatment. Such a controlled setting is invaluable because it clarifies how the radioactive agent itself influences therapeutic outcomes, a question that has long required deeper exploration in veterinary oncology.
Prior to therapy, each dog underwent specialized nuclear imaging procedures designed to scrutinize the biological characteristics of their thyroid tumors. Imaging modalities such as Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) provide detailed functional maps of radioactive uptake by tissues. Building on this data, the researchers employed radiomics — an emerging computational technique that extracts high-dimensional quantitative features from medical images, revealing data patterns invisible to the naked eye.
Radiomics distinguishes itself from classical image interpretation by leveraging machine learning algorithms and statistical analyses to quantify subtle variations in texture, shape, and intensity within tumor scans. Unlike the subjective evaluations by radiologists, this method delivers an objective, data-rich characterization of tumor heterogeneity and behavior. Maitz notes that harnessing computational power to interrogate pixel-level statistics offers unprecedented clarity into how cancerous tissue differs biochemically and physiologically.
One of the pivotal discoveries from this study was a clear correlation between the dose of radioactive iodine absorbed by the tumor and the efficacy of the treatment. Dogs receiving higher radiation doses exhibited improved response rates, underscoring the critical importance of dose precision. This finding advocates for a paradigm shift in veterinary radiation oncology, where dosimetry—the measurement of radiation actually deposited in target tissues—could replace current dosing practices that rely solely on administrated amounts.
Furthermore, the study uncovered that the clinical condition of the patient and the extent of cancer metastasis markedly influence therapeutic success. Tumor spread to lymph nodes and beyond negatively impacted long-term survival, while the relative uptake of radiation by tumors compared to adjacent tissues, such as salivary glands, played a significant role. These insights emphasize the complexity of thyroid cancer’s biologic behavior in dogs and the necessity of comprehensive pre-treatment assessments.
This research exemplifies a translational model of oncology, bridging veterinary and human medicine through the comparative oncology framework. Thyroid cancer treatment using radiopharmaceuticals has a storied history in human medicine spanning nearly seven decades, and about fifty years in canine patients. The dual perspective enriches understanding of both species’ disease mechanisms and treatment responses, fostering cross-disciplinary advances.
Maitz also holds a research position at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR), an institution pivotal in radiopharmaceutical development. MURR’s unique infrastructure enables the synthesis of radioactive compounds under stringent conditions, allowing researchers to tailor radiotracers specifically for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This collaboration facilitates cutting-edge veterinary clinical trials and propels forward radiopharmaceutical innovation domestically.
Harnessing MURR’s capabilities alongside Mizzou’s interdisciplinary environment—integrating chemistry, small animal medicine, advanced imaging, and drug design—positions this team at the forefront of radiopharmaceutical research. Maitz envisions leveraging naturally occurring cases of canine thyroid cancer as a testbed for optimizing radiotracers and dosing protocols, ultimately accelerating the pipeline from veterinary application to human clinical trials.
Employing sophisticated imaging tools to monitor and quantify the biodistribution of radioisotopes in real time allows the researchers to model radiation dose and predict biological effects more accurately. This dynamic feedback loop not only enhances therapeutic precision in pets but also serves as a blueprint for refining radiation-based treatments in human oncology, illustrating the profound ripple effects of veterinary research.
The landmark paper detailing these findings, titled “Prognostic Role of Patient, Tumour and Radiomic Factors Influencing Outcomes in Dogs With Thyroid Cancer Treated With Iodine-131,” was published in the esteemed journal Veterinary and Comparative Oncology. This multidisciplinary study features contributions from experts at Mizzou, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, as well as the University of California, Berkeley, exemplifying a collaborative and translational research ethos.
This pioneering work heralds a new era in veterinary cancer care, where precision dosimetry, advanced imaging analytics, and radiopharmaceutical innovation converge. As the veterinary and medical communities digest these advancements, the promise of extending life and improving quality of life for dogs suffering from thyroid cancer becomes increasingly tangible. Beyond pets, these developments foreshadow transformative impacts for human thyroid cancer therapies, reinforcing the vital interconnections between animal and human health sciences.
Subject of Research: Canine thyroid cancer treatment using radioactive iodine therapy and radiomics analysis.
Article Title: Prognostic Role of Patient, Tumour and Radiomic Factors Influencing Outcomes in Dogs With Thyroid Cancer Treated With Iodine-131.
News Publication Date: 4-Jun-2025.
Web References:
https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.13070
References:
Cowan C., Donnelly L., Chamseddine I., Schuemann J., Bertolet A., Abergel R.J., Maitz C.A. (2025). Prognostic role of patient, tumour and radiomic factors influencing outcomes in dogs with thyroid cancer treated with Iodine-131. Veterinary and Comparative Oncology.
Keywords: Veterinary medicine, Animal health, Thyroid cancer, Radiopharmaceuticals, Radiomics, Nuclear imaging, Dosimetry, Comparative oncology, Iodine-131, Canine cancer, Personalized treatment, Radiology.
