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NATURNAER-Natur og næring

Genetic predisposition and functional studies in spontaneous dog models of cancer

Awarded: NOK 10.0 mill.

Cancer is a significant threat to human and companion animal quality of life and shortening the life spans. The importance of inherited mutations in genes as an etiologic factor in the tumour pathogenesis is still not fully understood. The strategic progr am will help to build competence and understanding of cancer biology in general, cancer genetics and clinical oncology in the service of man and dog. Two spontaneous models of canine cancer; dominant renal cancer (RCND) and osteosarcoma (OS) is the objec t of research. Through linkage analysis, comparative mapping, RH-mapping, expression analysis and other methods of molecular genetics, the gene responsible for RCND will be discovered. Morphologic, electron microscopic and other methods will reveal the ul trastructure of the tumours and the primary, very early changes in the organs. Then, the tumour developing from gene-structure may be studied. Novel explorative treatments, including surgery, immune toxin, and radiotherapy improvement s in the management of the severe, spontaneous OS disease will be explored in high risk breeds. The hypothesis that OS in dogs has a strong hereditary basis will be examined by the epidemiological methods. Cell lines from OS-dogs will be studied by CGH.

Funding scheme:

NATURNAER-Natur og næring

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