Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Histiocytic sarcoma cancer in Bernese mountain dogs explained
By Abadie, Jérôme et al.·Published in The Journal of heredity·2009·Unité, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Epidemiology, pathology, and genetics of histiocytic sarcoma in the Bernese mountain dog breed.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6.5-year-old Bernese mountain dog was diagnosed with histiocytic sarcoma, a serious and aggressive cancer that affects this breed more than others. Unfortunately, dogs with this condition typically have a very short life expectancy, averaging only 49 days after diagnosis. Researchers studied 800 Bernese mountain dogs to understand the disease better, finding that about 25% of this breed is affected. They are working on identifying the genetic factors that contribute to this cancer, which could help in future treatments and understanding of similar diseases in both dogs and humans.
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Abstract
Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) refers to a highly aggressive and frequently disseminated neoplastic disease belonging to the class of canine histiocytic proliferative disorders. Disseminated HS (previously called malignant histiocytosis) is highly breed specific, with Bernese mountain dogs (BMDs), rottweilers, and retrievers having a high prevalence with a frequency of approximately 25% in the BMD breed. We collected DNA samples and clinical information from 800 BMDs, of which 200 are affected by HS. To better characterize the physiopathology and epidemiology, an in-depth analysis of 89 BMD cases has been performed. The mean age of onset was 6.5 years, males and females being equally affected. The clinical features, biochemical parameters, and pathological features have been determined. The life span after diagnosis has been estimated to be 49 days. A large BMD pedigree of 327 dogs, 121 of which are affected, was assembled. Using a subset of 160 BMDs, encompassing 21 complete sibships, we now propose an oligogenic transmission mode of the disease. Whole-genome linkage scans as well as association studies using a case/control analysis, in parallel with expression profiling of neoplastic versus normal histiocytes, are all underway. Altogether, these complementary approaches are expected to localize the genes for HS in the BMD, leading to advances in our knowledge of histiocyte diseases in dogs and humans.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19531730/