PanCancer: development of an advanced genetic panel for diagnosis and monitoring of various types of cancer in dogs

• Grant number: 24/16026-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Support Program for Fixating Young Doctors
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Heidge Fukumasu
• Grantee: Osiel Silva Gonçalves
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/02168-0 - PanCancer: development of an advanced genetic panel for diagnosing and monitoring various types of cancer in dogs, AP.R

Abstract

In veterinary medicine, histopathological analysis is still the most widely used test for diagnosing neoplasia in dogs. However, significant challenges persist, both in determining the origin of neoplastic cells and in monitoring cancer patients, due to the limitations of this technique. Therefore, the development of faster, more efficient and less invasive diagnostic methods, suitable for incorporation into clinical routine, is of utmost importance. A "pan-cancer" approach involves analyzing the most frequently mutated genes and other genetic abnormalities common to most cancers, regardless of the tumor origin. Thus, the objective is to develop a genetic sequencing panel for accurate diagnosis and monitoring of different canine cancers through liquid biopsy. To develop the panel, the main mutated genes and genetic abnormalities frequently associated with cancer in dogs will be selected from a systematic review of the literature and comparative analysis. The panel will be prepared for amplification of these regions and subsequent sequencing in the Ion Genestudio S5 plus system. Bioinformatics analyses will be performed to detect copy number variation and potential causal mutations. Initial validation of the panel will be performed on neoplastic samples obtained from fresh or frozen tumor tissue and liquid biopsy samples from different tumor types for panel validation belonging to the LOCT-USP sample bank. In a future stage, a prospective experiment will be performed to validate the use of the panel for monitoring minimal residual disease by liquid biopsy.