Two new studies from two universities show promise for the identification and treatment of lymphoma in dogs, and possibly humans.

One study, from the University of California – Davis identifies a protein that appears to play a key role in the formation of lymphoma and other tumors by inhibiting a tumor-suppressing gene. The UC- Davis researchers suggest that the protein could be targeted to diagnose and ultimately treat lymphoma in humans and animals.

The research was published in the journal Genes & Development.

The other study, by the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, showed that dogs that spontaneously develop a certain type of lymphoma (Activated B-Cell Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, or ABC-DLBCL), share a common malfunctioning intracellular pathway with humans. In addition, they found a drug that inhibits the pathway could kill the malignant lymphocytes.

The study was published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.