Humans and Their Pet Dogs: Shared Cancers, Shared Hope in Dr. Matthew Breen’s Research Featured at 2014 ACVIM Forum …

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Newswise (Denver, Colo.) In human medicine a gold standard of diagnosis and prognosis for numerous cancers has involved cytogenetic (linking the study of genetic inheritance with the study of cell structure) assessment of the tumor cells.

Within the past few years scientists have demonstrated that characteristic cytogenetic changes associated with human cancers are shared in corresponding canine cancers.

Researchers are now exploring the broader use of cytogenetics in veterinary oncology as a means to advance clinical management and treatment options for cancers affecting pet dogs. To pursue this first required the development of key reagents and tools specific for use with canine specimens, says Dr. Matthew Breen, a North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine professor of genomics.

Breen will address the 2014 ACVIM Forum attendees Wednesday, June 4 from 10:0511:45 a.m. at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville with presentations titled, Genomics & Genetics in Veterinary Medicine: An Overview and Cancer in the Domestic Dog: A Genome With Two Tales, detailing the latest advances in the field.

Breens laboratory has developed an extensive cytogenetics toolbox designed to provide the necessary means to identify key cytogenetic signatures in numerous canine cancers.

As a result of these efforts, several cytogenetic assays have been developed that will allow veterinary scientists to: (1) Accurately predict the duration of first remission in canine lymphoma patients treated with doxorubicin (an anthracycline used widely in cancer lymphoma treatment)-based therapy. Canine lymphoma affects an estimated 300,000 dogs per year. (2) Diagnose the presence of a transitional cell carcinoma/urogenital carcinoma using a urine sample. TCC affects an estimated 50,000 dogs per year and to date accurate diagnosis has required an invasive biopsy of the mass, generally in the bladder. (3) Identify a signature that allows for accurate differentiation of lymphoma from histocytic neoplasms (tumors). In some cases, discrimination of the two cancers poses a challenge and this is overcome with the new assay.

All of these are being developed in a format that will provide a report within 48 to 72 hours, facilitating more informed treatment and better clinical management.

Breens group has also demonstrated that the cytogenetic changes observed in several canine cancers are shared with the corresponding cancers in humans. This allows the team to now consider the dog as a means to accelerate advances in our understanding of cancers in both species.

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Humans and Their Pet Dogs: Shared Cancers, Shared Hope in Dr. Matthew Breen's Research Featured at 2014 ACVIM Forum ...