02759-T: Reprogramming the Tumor Immune Niche in Canine Hemangiosarcoma
Grant Status: Closed
Abstract
Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a common, devastating disease of dogs. The malignant tumor is seen frequently in older Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Portuguese Water Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, and Schnauzers, but it can occur in any dog of any breed at any age. Survival times of dogs with the tumor are short, even with surgical removal and standard of care treatment. Inflammation within the tumor tissue is common in canine HSA, and the immune response may contribute to tumor heterogeneity and prognosis for the dog. Yet, the immunological features in the context of the HSA niche are virtually unknown. The investigators have found that HSA cells have a strong capacity to promote proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, with increased inflammatory cytokines, suggesting a niche regulatory function of HSA cells. This study will focus on understanding the functional relationships between HSA cells and immune cells that contribute to the tumor niche to identify molecular mechanisms that regulate critical signaling pathways in canine HSA. This approach will improve our understanding of the tumor immunity and heterogeneity, as well as aid in patient selection for novel immunotherapies.
Publication(s)
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