Cancers in animals present a large, underutilized reservoir of biomedical information with critical implication for human oncology and medicine in general. Discussing two distinct areas of tumour biology in non-human hosts, we highlight the importance of these findings for our current understanding of cancer, before proposing a coordinated strategy to harvest biomedical information from non-human resources and translate it into a clinical setting. First, infectious cancers that can be transmitted as allografts between individual hosts, have been identified in four distinct, unrelated groups, dogs, Tasmanian devils, Syrian hamsters and, surprisingly, marine bivalves. These malignancies might hold the key to improving our understanding of the interaction between tumour cell and immune system and, thus, allow us to devise novel treatment strategies that enhance anti-cancer immunosurveillance, as well as suggesting more effective organ and stem cell transplantation strategies. The existence of these malignancies also highlights the need for increased scrutiny when considering the existence of infectious cancers in humans. Second, it has long been understood that no linear relationship exists between the number of cells within an organism and the cancer incidence rate. To resolve what is known as Peto's Paradox, additional anticancer strategies within different species have to be postulated. These naturally occurring idiosyncrasies to avoid carcinogenesis represent novel potential therapeutic strategies.

In this two-part study, the potency of two analgesics on nociception was assessed in African Clawed Frogs (ACFs). First, three different Pain Stimuli (PSs) were evaluated in the frogs during Tricaine Methanesulfonate (MS222) anaesthesia. Using the most effective PS from the preliminary study, the analgesic effects of three different doses of fentanyl and butorphanol were examined in frogs under MS222 anaesthesia. Comparing the three different PSs (5% acetic acid onto skin, toe pinch by a clamp and pull on the ovaries), continuous Blood Pressure (BP) and Heart Rate (HR) recordings of the frogs indicated a sharp and reproducible increase in both parameters in response to acetic acid. That result clearly indicated an increased nociception during MS222 anaesthesia. Therefore, MS222 alone does not provide sufficient analgesia for painful interventions in ACFs. From all tested analgesic groups only 5 mg/kg butorphanol showed a short lasting decreased BP and HR response. In contrast, neither lower dosed butorphanol nor fentanyl in general reduced BP and HR response to a PS, only producing considerable side effects on the haemodynamic system. These findings argue against using fentanyl as an analgesic in ACFs. Butorphanol significantly reduced the nociception in the high dose group. However, considering its limited duration of action and potential adverse effects, further analgesics (e.g., ketamine and metamizole) should be evaluated to improve intraoperative analgesia when using MS222 anaesthesia in ACFs.