Grant Amount: $105,592

Dr. Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, PhD, Broad Institute

January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2006

Sponsor(s): Borzoi Club of America, Forsyth Kennel Club, Golden Retriever Foundation, Great Pyrenees Club of America, Great Pyrenees Club of Puget Sound, Greyhound Club of America, Irish Setter Club of America Foundation, Irish Wolfhound Club of America, Inc., Newfoundland Club of America Charitable Trust, Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States, Rottweiler Health Foundation, St. Bernard Club of America, Starlight Fund

Breed(s): Borzoi, Golden Retriever, Great Pyrenees, Greyhound, Irish Setter, Irish Wolfhound, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard

Disease(s): Osteosarcoma

Abstract

Eight thousand to ten thousand cases of osteosarcoma, a malignant bone tumor, are reported in dogs in the United States annually, representing a significant health concern. In the majority of cases, spread of the tumor throughout the body and death follows within a few years. Osteosarcoma affects all dogs, but the disease frequency is considerably higher in large and giant breeds, including the long-limbed hounds (Irish Wolfhound, Great Dane, Greyhound, Scottish Deerhound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Great Pyrenees and Borzoi) and Mastiff-type breeds (Rottweiler, Labrador Retriever, Flat-Coated Retriever, Golden Retriever, Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Saint Bernard, Irish Setter, and Newfoundland). It is clear the genetics play an important role. We propose to identify the genetic risk factors for osteosarcoma in two breeds: Greyhound and Rottweiler. While certain characteristics of these two breeds make them ideal to study, we expect that the genes identified in these breeds may also be associated with osteosarcoma in related breeds. This study should lead to the development of genetic tests for osteosarcoma that could be used to eliminate carriers from breeding populations, eventually reducing the frequency of this devastating cancer. Ultimately, it could also lead to improvements in treatment of osteosarcoma.