Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Detecting PIK3CA mutations in dog mammary tumors by liquid biopsy
By Seung, Byung-Joon & Sur, Jung-Hyang·Published in Scientific reports·2024·Department of Veterinary Pathology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Detection of PIK3CA hotspot mutations in canine mammary tumors using droplet digital PCR: tissue validation and liquid biopsy feasibility.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that certain mutations linked to breast cancer in dogs, specifically the PIK3CA mutation, are common in benign and less aggressive mammary tumors in female dogs. Researchers tested tissue samples from 80 dogs and also looked at blood samples to see if they could detect these mutations non-invasively. They found that blood tests could identify the mutations with reasonable accuracy, suggesting that this method could help in early detection and monitoring of mammary tumors in dogs. This could lead to better treatment options and outcomes for dogs with cancer.
People also search for: dog mammary tumor treatment · canine breast cancer symptoms · blood test for dog cancer detection
Abstract
Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) serve as valuable translational models for human cancer research due to their biological similarities. Canine mammary tumors (CMTs), frequently diagnosed in female dogs, share various characteristics with human breast cancers. This study investigates the PIK3CA (H1047R) mutation in CMTs using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and explores the potential of liquid biopsy for non-invasive detection. We analyzed 80 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) CMT tissue samples and compared ddPCR results with next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, achieving high concordance. Plasma and serum samples were also assessed for mutation concordance with tissue results. Our findings indicate a higher frequency of the PIK3CA (H1047R) mutations in benign and grade I malignant CMTs compared to more aggressive malignancies. The ddPCR assay demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, with plasma testing showing 78.6% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity, and serum testing showing 66.7% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity. These results highlight the viability of liquid biopsy as a minimally invasive method for monitoring PIK3CA mutations in canine patients. The study suggests that liquid biopsy techniques hold significant promise for improving the early detection and monitoring of canine cancers, warranting further research to refine these methods and explore their applications in canine cancer diagnostics and treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39462049/