Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood test with 4 microRNAs detects splenic cancer in dogs
By Grimes, Janet A & Schmiedt, Jennifer M·Published in American journal of veterinary research·2026·Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: A panel of 4 circulating microRNAs (126-5p, 150-5p, 452-5p, and 543) discriminates dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma from those with noncancerous splenic masses.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with splenic masses underwent testing to see if a specific combination of microRNAs could help tell apart those with hemangiosarcoma (a type of cancer) from those with noncancerous masses. The study found that a panel of four microRNAs could accurately distinguish between the two conditions, with a high level of accuracy. This information could help veterinarians make better decisions about treatment options, as knowing whether a mass is cancerous or not can influence whether surgery is pursued or if other therapies are needed.
People also search for: dog splenic mass cancer diagnosis · hemangiosarcoma in dogs · dog surgery for splenic mass
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify a panel of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) that accurately discriminates dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma from those with noncancerous splenic masses. METHODS: Serum samples from 10 dogs with hemangiosarcoma and 20 dogs with noncancerous splenic masses were included. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was performed for 8 candidate miRNAs (miRNA [miR]-126-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-203a-3p, miR-214-3p, miR-452-5p, miR-494-3p, miR-497-5p, and miR-543) and 2 reference genes (miR-16-5p and miR-93-5p). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify a panel of miRNAs diagnostic for hemangiosarcoma. RESULTS: The combination of miR-126-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-452-5p, and miR-543 had an area under the curve of 0.930, a sensitivity of 80%, a specificity of 90%, and a Youden J of 0.700 for discriminating dogs with hemangiosarcoma from those with noncancerous splenic masses. CONCLUSIONS: This panel of 4 miRNAs can be used to discriminate noncancerous splenic masses from hemangiosarcoma in dogs with splenic masses. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The ability to determine the nature of a splenic mass prior to surgery will provide veterinarians and their clients with important knowledge prior to surgery. If a mass is not hemangiosarcoma, owners may be more likely to proceed with surgery rather than euthanasia. Knowing that a mass is hemangiosarcoma will provide information to owners on the need for adjuvant therapy following surgery.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41248605/