Clinical and molecular insights into mast cell tumor management in veterinary practice

Mast cell tumors are prevalent skin neoplasms observed in veterinary clinical practice, particularly affecting both dogs and cats. Over the years, rigorous research has explored various aspects of these tumors across veterinary oncology, encompassing clinical-therapeutic approaches, diagnostic innovations, molecular-genetic investigations, and epidemiological studies. In recent decades, there has been an increased focus on unearthing clinical, pathological, and molecular prognostic indicators that predict the biological behavior of cutaneous and subcutaneous mast cell tumors. Despite this, challenges remain in standardizing procedures to exclude distant metastases prior to surgery and identify sentinel lymph nodes to assay the scope of microscopic nodal involvement—a practice predominantly advanced in canine cases. This shift in surgical paradigms is instrumental in redefining the prognostic value of diverse clinical and pathological variables.



This Research Topic aims to foster the utilization of a multidisciplinary lens in studying mast cell tumors in both canine and feline subjects. By integrating clinical, pathological, and molecular data, the goal is to design a more objective and repeatable evaluation of these tumors, consequently enabling the assembly of homogeneous sample populations, minimizing selection bias, and providing more reproducible, clinically relevant data to advance the field. Key objectives include building upon existing datasets, delineating the evolution of current approaches, addressing emergent challenges and needs, and charting prospective research advancements—all towards the ultimate benefit of animal patients.



To gather further insights in advancing treatment and prognostic evaluation approaches, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:



The role of molecular-genetic assessments in mast cell tumor staging

Innovative diagnostic tools for early detection of metastasis

Surgical techniques and paradigms for better prognostic evaluation

Comparative studies on canine and feline mast cell tumor pathophysiology

Emerging therapeutic strategies and their efficacy in clinical practice

The research welcomes original research, reviews, and case studies that further diversify the understanding and management of mast cell tumors in veterinary settings.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Mast cell tumor, Veterinary oncology, Prognostic indicators, Canine neoplasms, Feline neoplasms, Multidisciplinary approach, Molecular-genetic analysis, Sentinel lymph nodes, Surgical paradigms, Diagnostic innovations

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.