Oncology- How vets can help our research

Canine mast cell tumours

Using molecular genetics to help predict whether canine mast cell tumours will metastasise

1. Collect an approximately 5mm3 piece of an excisional biopsy of a suspected mast cell tumour in an RNAlater tube (RNAlater tube, sample collection protocol, and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

2. Submit RNAlater-preserved tissue, sample submission form and histopathology report to the AHT.

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Identification of the inherited gene mutations responsible for the susceptibility of Boxers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Weimaraners to developing mast cell tumours

For dogs with cancer, or dogs aged 6 or above who do not have cancer (and have not had cancer):

1. Save a surplus blood sample (0.2 - 1ml of whole blood in an EDTA tube), or collect a cheek swab (cheek swab kit, including protocol and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

2. Submit blood sample/cheek swab sample, sample submission form and histopathology report (for dogs with a suspected tumour) to the AHT.

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Canine lymphoma

Evaluation of the classification of canine lymphoma by gene expression profiling

To participate in the study, you would be required to:

Collect samples and clinical data
Send samples, histopathology reports, and clinical data, to the AHT
Be willing to be contacted by the AHT for follow-up data (and have your client’s permission to release this information)

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 08700 509188; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Protocol

1. Collect both an excisional biopsy and a fine needle aspirate of a suspected lymphoma in different RNAlater tubes (solution and sample collection protocol provided by the AHT).

2. Confirm diagnosis by histopathology.

3. Record (if possible) clinical stage* of lymphoma when biopsies were collected (*staging using whatever procedure you normally use).

4. Submit RNAlater-preserved tumour tissues in RNAlater, histopathology report, and associated clinical data, to the AHT.

5. Record (if possible), and be willing to be contacted regarding, follow-up (~1 year post-diagnosis):

Details (agent/s name, dose, frequency and length of treatment) of treatment administered
Clinical stage of lymphoma when treatment commenced
Response to treatment:

Whether the patient entered remission
To what degree the disease decreased (details of how to assess this provided by AHT)
Date of start of first remission
Whether relapse occurred
Date of end of first remission
Details of further treatment administered

Patient’s state of health
If dead, whether cause of death was related to the diagnosis of lymphoma

Identification of the inherited gene mutations responsible for the susceptibility of Bulldogs, Bullmastiffs, and Boxers to developing lymphoma

For dogs with cancer, or dogs aged 5 or above who do not have cancer (and have not had cancer):

1. Save a surplus blood sample (0.2 - 1ml of whole blood in an EDTA tube), or collect a cheek swab (cheek swab kit, including protocol and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

2. Submit blood sample/cheek swab sample, sample submission form and histopathology report (for dogs with a suspected tumour) to the AHT.

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Canine brain tumours

Molecular profiling of canine brain tumours (meningiomas and glial cell tumours)

1. Collect an approximately 5mm3 piece of an excisional biopsy of a suspected brain tumour in an RNAlater tube (RNAlater tube, sample collection protocol, and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

2. Submit RNAlater-preserved tissue, sample submission form, histopathology report, and/or report on the results of an MRI scan, to the AHT.

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Identification of the inherited gene mutations responsible for the susceptibility of Boxers to developing glial cell tumours

For dogs with cancer, or dogs aged 6 or above who do not have cancer (and have not had cancer):

1. Save a surplus blood sample (0.2 - 1ml of whole blood in an EDTA tube), or collect a cheek swab (cheek swab kit, including protocol and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

2. Submit blood sample/cheek swab sample, sample submission form and histopathology report (for dogs with a suspected tumour) to the AHT.

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Canine haemangiosarcoma

Identification of the inherited gene mutations responsible for the susceptibility of German Shepherd Dogs to developing haemangiosarcomas

For dogs with a suspected tumour:

1. Collect an approximately 5mm3 piece of an excisional biopsy of a suspected haemangiosarcoma in an RNAlater tube (RNAlater tube, sample collection protocol, and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

For dogs with a suspected tumour, and for dogs aged 6 or above who do not have cancer (and have not had cancer):

2. Save a surplus blood sample (0.2 - 1ml of whole blood in an EDTA tube), or collect a cheek swab (cheek swab kit, including protocol and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

3. Submit RNAlater-preserved tissue (for dogs with a suspected tumour) and/or blood sample/cheek swab sample, sample submission form and histopathology report (for dogs with a suspected tumour) to the AHT.

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Canine histiocytic sarcoma

Identification of the inherited gene mutations responsible for the susceptibility of Rottweilers to developing histiocytic sarcomas

For dogs with a suspected tumour:

1. Collect an approximately 5mm3 piece of an excisional biopsy of a suspected histiocytic sarcoma in an RNAlater tube (RNAlater tube, sample collection protocol, and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

For dogs with a suspected tumour, and for dogs aged 6 or above who do not have cancer (and have not had cancer):

2. Save a surplus blood sample (0.2 - 1ml of whole blood in an EDTA tube), or collect a cheek swab (cheek swab kit, including protocol and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Canine mammary tumours

Identification of the inherited gene mutations responsible for the susceptibility of Boxers, Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels and German Shepherd Dogs to developing mammary tumours

For dogs with a suspected tumour(s):

1. Collect an approximately 5mm3 piece of an excisional biopsy of a suspected mammary tumour* in an RNAlater tube (RNAlater tube, sample collection protocol, and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

*If a dog has tumours in different glands, collect a small piece of the biopsy of each tumour.

For dogs with a suspected tumour, and for dogs aged 6 or above who do not have cancer (and have not had cancer):

2. Save a surplus blood sample (0.2 - 1ml of whole blood in an EDTA tube), or collect a cheek swab (cheek swab kit, including protocol and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Canine melanoma

Identification of the inherited gene mutations responsible for the susceptibility of Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Poodles, Schnauzers and Scottish Terriers to developing melanomas

For dogs with a suspected tumour:

1. Collect an approximately 5mm3 piece of an excisional biopsy of a suspected melanoma in an RNAlater tube (RNAlater tube, sample collection protocol, and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

For dogs with a suspected tumour, and for dogs aged 6 or above who do not have cancer (and have not had cancer):

2. Save a surplus blood sample (0.2 - 1ml of whole blood in an EDTA tube), or collect a cheek swab (cheek swab kit, including protocol and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Canine uveal melanoma and ocular melanosis project

The project will involve:

1. Collecting FNAs* from enucleated eyes of dogs with suspected uveal melanoma, or ocular melanosis, in RNAlater (RNAlater tube, sample collection protocol, and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

2. Submit each FNA, together with a sample submission form, histopathology report and copy slides to the AHT.

*Please note that if you submit a FNA in RNAlater to the AHT, the cost of histopathological examination (by the histopathology laboratory of your choice) of an enucleated eye will be paid for by the Animal Health Trust.

If you would like to participate in this project and/or have any queries, please contact Mike (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk), or David Donaldson (Tel.: 08700 502540).

Canine osteosarcoma

Identification of the inherited gene mutations responsible for the susceptibility of Irish Wolfhounds to developing osteosarcoma

For dogs with cancer, or dogs aged 5 or above who do not have cancer (and have not had cancer):

1. Save a surplus blood sample (0.2 - 1ml of whole blood in an EDTA tube), or collect a cheek swab (cheek swab kit, including protocol and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

2. Submit blood sample/cheek swab sample, sample submission form and histopathology report (for dogs with a suspected tumour) to the AHT.

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Canine soft tissue sarcoma

Can tumour gene expression profiles distinguish between metastatic and non-metastatic soft-tissue sarcomas?

To participate in the study, you would be required to:

Collect samples and clinical data
Send samples, histopathology reports, and clinical data, to the AHT
Be willing to be contacted by the AHT for follow-up (and have your client’s permission to release this information)
Be prepared to request that histopathology laboratory makes formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue block available to AHT to enable immunohistochemical sub-typing of STS

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 08700 509188; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Protocol

1. Collect an excisional biopsy of a sub-cutaneous STS (excluding haemangiosarcoma and histiocytic sarcoma) in RNAlater (solution and sample collection protocol provided by the AHT).

2. Confirm diagnosis, and extent of resection (size of normal tissue margin), by histopathology.

3. Record (if possible):

Stage at presentation: check for lymph node and lung metastasis (inflated X-Rays, two lateral views)
Tumour size (2D; measured, prior to resection, using callipers/ruler at widest dimensions)

4. Submit RNAlater-preserved tumour tissues in RNAlater, histopathology report, and associated clinical data, to the AHT.

5. Record (if possible), and be willing to be contacted regarding, follow-up (~2 years post-surgery)

Record local recurrence
If suspicious of metastasis, check for lymph node metastasis and/or take chest X-Rays

6. Request that histopathology laboratory makes formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue block available to AHT to enable immunohistochemical sub-typing of STS.

Identification of the inherited gene mutations responsible for the susceptibility of Golden Retrievers to developing soft tissue sarcomas

For dogs with a suspected tumour:

1. Collect an approximately 5mm3 piece of an excisional biopsy of a suspected soft tissue sarcoma in an RNAlater tube (RNAlater tube, sample collection protocol, and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

For dogs with a suspected tumour, and for dogs aged 6 or above who do not have cancer (and have not had cancer):

2. Save a surplus blood sample (0.2 - 1ml of whole blood in an EDTA tube), or collect a cheek swab (cheek swab kit, including protocol and sample submission form provided by the AHT).

Please contact Mike Starkey (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk) if you wish to participate.

Click here to read success stories of past AHT patients