Department of Veterinary Medicine

Research in Veterinary Medicine

Other relevant links

• Cambridge Cancer Centre

Research description

As a Veterinary Oncologist, I am interested in many aspects of cancer including diagnostic methods and treatment of commonly occuring cancers in animals eg lymphoma and osteosarcoma. Animals cancer patients could provide an excellent model for therapeutic studies of novel agents, a particular area of interest is in strategies for prevention of metastasis. My principle research interest is in soft tissue sarcomas, and the fact that certain soft tissue sarcomas appear more frequent in specific breeds of dog, suggesting an underlying genetic influence. We have shown that flat-coated retrievers are prone to developement of an aggressive histiocytic sarcoma and are investigating the molecular genetics of this disease in the breed.

Key publications since 2001

• Taylor, F., R. Gear, T. Hoather and J. Dobson (2009). Chlorambucil and prednisolone chemotherapy for dogs with inoperable mast cell tumours: 21 cases. J Small Anim Pract 50(6): 284-9. [PubMed]
• Aguirre-Hernandez, J., B. S. Milne, C. Queen, P. C. O'Brien, T. Hoather, S. Haugland, M. A. Ferguson-Smith, J. M. Dobson and D. R. Sargan (2009). Disruption of chromosome 11 in canine fibrosarcomas highlights an unusual variability of CDKN2B in dogs. BMC Vet Res 5: 27. [PubMed]
• Dobson, J., T. Hoather, T. J. McKinley and J. L. Wood (2009). Mortality in a cohort of flat-coated retrievers in the UK. Vet Comp Oncol 7(2): 115-21. [PubMed]
• Dunning, M. D., C. S. Lowrie, N. H. Bexfield, J. M. Dobson and M. E. Herrtage (2009). Exogenous insulin treatment after hypofractionated radiotherapy in cats with diabetes mellitus and acromegaly. J Vet Intern Med 23(2): 243-9. [PubMed]
• Bexfield, N. H., A. J. Stell, R. N. Gear and J. M. Dobson (2008). Photodynamic therapy of superficial nasal planum squamous cell carcinomas in cats: 55 cases. J Vet Intern Med 22(6): 1385-9. [PubMed]
• Dobson, J., E. Villiers, A. Roulois, S. Gould, P. Mellor, T. Hoather and P. Watson (2006). Histiocytic sarcoma of the spleen in flat-coated retrievers with regenerative anaemia and hypoproteinaemia. Vet Rec 158(24): 825-9. [PubMed]
• Sargan, D. R., B. S. Milne, J. A. Hernandez, P. C. O'Brien, M. A. Ferguson-Smith, T. Hoather and J. M. Dobson (2005). Chromosome rearrangements in canine fibrosarcomas. J Hered 96(7): 766-73. [PubMed]
• Catchpole, B., S. M. Gould, L. M. Kellett-Gregory and J. M. Dobson (2003). Development of a multiple-marker polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of metastatic melanoma in lymph node aspirates of dogs. Am J Vet Res 64(5): 544-9. [PubMed]
• Morris, J. S., E. F. McInnes, D. E. Bostock, T. M. Hoather and J. M. Dobson (2002). Immunohistochemical and histopathologic features of 14 malignant fibrous histiocytomas from Flat-Coated Retrievers. Vet Pathol 39(4): 473-9. [PubMed]
• Dobson, J. M., S. Samuel, H. Milstein, K. Rogers and J. L. Wood (2002). Canine neoplasia in the UK: estimates of incidence rates from a population of insured dogs. J Small Anim Pract 43(6): 240-6. [PubMed]