Mary Allen
By comparing the entire genome of healthy bitches of the English Springer Spaniel breed with that of bitches with udder tumors, researchers have been able to identify gene variants that are only found in dogs with this disease. Juvenile tumors in dogs are very similar to human breast cancer. The results, which have just been published in Plos Genetics, have been produced within a project run by Uppsala University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in dogs, and udder tumors are the most common form of tumors in bitches that have not been neutered. Middle-aged and older bitches are particularly affected. The tumors are overrepresented in some breeds, such as the English Springer Spaniel, and it can therefore be suspected that hereditary causes contribute to the dogs getting tumors.
A research group, most of which are affiliated with Uppsala University or SLU, has now mapped the hereditary causes by comparing the genome of healthy and sick bitches of the English Springer Spaniel breed. In this way, they have been able to identify genes where the dogs that have developed tumors differ from those that are healthy.
– Our suspicions are particularly directed at a gene that affects cell division, CDK5RAP2, says Malin Melin, one of the researchers from Uppsala University. It is found in the area on chromosome 11 where we see the clearest differences between healthy and sick dogs.
This discovery may in the long run lead to the development of a refined diagnosis and in the long run better treatments. Juvenile tumors in dogs are very similar to breast cancer in humans and it is possible that the results may also lead to better knowledge and opportunities for women with breast cancer.
– We now suggest that studies be done with both bitches and women, to see what effect this gene has on disease development and response to cancer treatment, says Henrik Rönnberg, one of the SLU researchers behind the study.
At the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Uppsala University (UU), intensive research is underway on the genetics behind dog diseases. The purpose of this research is to gain increased knowledge about the biology behind hereditary diseases and to support breeding for healthier dogs. The knowledge can be used to improve both veterinary medicine and human medicine. The research covers many of the dog’s genetic diseases, from various types of cancer to cardiovascular disease and inflammatory diseases, epilepsy, and eye diseases.