CANINE ONCOGENOMICS: WHAT IS IN OUR GENES?

摘要

Cancer can be defined as a genetic disease. Many different mutations lead to the development of a tumor and others to its subsequent metastatic spread, these include the activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. The multi-step pathogenesis of cancer has been described by many, although most notably by Hanahan and Weinberg. These include manipulation of growth factors, loss of growth inhibition, evading programmed cell death, inhibition of cellular senescence/aging and the ability to metastasize. Mutations described in canine cancers are a more recent development, with non-candidate approaches made possible by the publishing of the canine genome in 2005. A variety of high throughput methods are now available for interrogating canine cancers including RT-PCR, PARR, oligonucleotide and SNP microarrays and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) technologies. Applications of each technology will be briefly explored in the following review. Lastly, the clinical utility of genediscovery will be emphasized with descriptions of canine clinical trials utilizing novel targeted therapies.