01093A: Positional Cloning of the Gene(s) for Gastric Cancer in the Chow Chow

Grant Amount: $45,900

Elaine A Ostrander, PhD; National Human Genome Research Institute

January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2011

Sponsor(s): American Boxer Charitable Foundation, American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, Inc., American Miniature Schnauzer Club, Inc., Basset Hound Club of America, Inc., Collie Health Foundation, Delaware County Kennel Club, English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association, Forsyth Kennel Club, Golden Retriever Foundation, Greyhound Club of America, Labrador Retriever Club, National Amateur Retriever Club, National Beagle Club, Papillon Club of America, Samoyed Club of America Education & Research Foundation

Breed(s): Chow Chow

Research Program Area: Oncology

Project Summary

Several canine breeds including Chow Chows, Belgian Sheepdogs and Tervuren, Keeshonden, Norwegian elkhounds, Akitas, Eurasiers, and Scottish Terriers have an increased risk on developing gastric carcinoma (stomach cancer). Furthermore, examination of pedigrees suggests that this cancer may result from a faulty gene or genes. Our goal is to identify the gene(s) that predispose this cancer in specific breeds, which will improve our ability to prevent and treat this devastating disease. Our DNA database now includes 667 samples from dogs of breeds at high risk for gastric cancer including 143 dogs diagnosed with gastric cancer. Although a great deal of progress has been made in accruing samples, we still need more. The larger the number of samples we have, the stronger the signal to noise ratio and the better the changes the loci we identify can be validated. We have selected a subset of samples from the database for initial genetic evaluations. We are using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips to investigate the genetic differences between dogs with and without stomach cancer. We have focused on the Chow Chows and Belgian Tervurens because we have the largest number of cases from these two breeds and they are both at increased risk. Thus far, no definitive locus has been identified in either breed. One issue is obtaining sufficient numbers of unrelated healthy Chow Chows. Therefore, we are amending our study design and are in the process of analyzing all Chow Chows collected without cancer over the age of eight as a comparison group to the cases. We are committed to continuing the aims of this grant and are working to identify the GC locus in Chow Chows and to confirm a promising locus in Belgian Tervurens.

Publication(s)