Genomics and transcriptomics in veterinary oncology (Review)

Abstract

The sequencing of the canine genome, combined with additional genomic technologies, has created opportunities for research linking veterinary genomics with naturally occurring cancer in dogs. Also, as numerous canine cancers have features in common with human cancers, comparative studies can be performed to evaluate the use of cancers in dogs as models for human cancer. There have been several reviews of veterinary genomics but, to the best of our knowledge, there has been no comprehensive review of the literature of canine cancer genomics. PubMed and CAB Abstracts databases were searched to retrieve relevant literature using the search terms 'veterinary', 'cancer' or 'oncology', and 'genomics' or 'transcriptomics'. Results were manually assessed and grouped based on the techniques used, the cancer type investigated and genomic lesions targeted. The search resulted in the retrieval of 44 genomic and transcriptomic studies, with the most common technique employed being comparative genomic hybridization. Across both fields, the most commonly studied cancer type was canine osteosarcoma. Genomic and transcriptomic aberrations in canine cancer often reflected those reported in the corresponding human cancers. Analysis of the literature indicated that employing genomic and transcriptomic technologies has been instrumental in developing the understanding of the origin, development and pathogenesis of several canine cancers. However, their use in canine oncology is at an early phase, and there appears to be comparatively little understanding of certain canine cancer types in contrast to their human forms. Aberrations detected in all tumors were tabulated, and the results for osteosarcoma, lymphoma and leukemia, mast cell tumor, transmissible venereal tumor and urothelial carcinoma discussed in detail. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Materials and methods 3. Genomics 4. Transcriptomics 5. Studies pertaining to the most common cancer types 6. Review articles 7. Conclusions

Canine and murine models of osteosarcoma

“…90 The complete characterization of the human genome was closely followed by characterization of the canine genome published in 2005, 86 enabling the use of “-omics” to study canine cancer. Since then, a number of genomic biomarkers have been proposed in several different canine cancers 53 including OS. Copy number aberrations have been reported for several genes including ADAM15 , CDC5L , MYC , CTC1 , MEN1 , CDKY , 4 RUNX2 , 3,4 TUSC3 , and PTEN .…”

A Comparative View on Molecular Alterations and Potential Therapeutic Strategies for Canine Oral Melanoma

“…For veterinary genomics, comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) and array-based CGH are the most commonly used technologies at present, along with fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), quantitative PCR, and DNA microarrays, as well as targeted, whole exome, or whole genome sequencing [20]. FISH utilises fluorescently labelled probes that are hybridised to specific regions of the test genome in order to visualise chromosomal numbers.…”

“…Much more is known about the molecular pathogenesis of human cancers, and this provides veterinary medicine with candidate factors for targeted investigation. Furthermore, veterinary medicine is now entering a new era of genomic and transcriptomic research, facilitating direct collaboration to develop innovative cancer therapies [20]. Owners may access state-of-the-art medicine for their beloved pets, and in return, canine patients present an unrivalled natural disease model to expedite the translation of new drugs to human patients [11].…”

Spontaneously occurring canine cancer as a relevant animal model for developing novel treatments for human cancers

“…The clinical and histopathological similarities and differences between canine tumors and their human counterparts have long been investigated in comparative oncology [23]. Recently, the development of next-generation sequencing techniques has made it possible to perform transcriptome and exome analyses of canine tumors, and there have been an increasing number of reports of molecular comparisons between counterparts of canine and human cancers [24]. For example, the phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) gene mutations and the activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway have both been observed in human angiosarcoma and canine hemangiosarcoma [25,26].…”