Cancer is the leading cause of death in adult dogs, with hemangiosarcoma (HSA) being the most common tumor of the spleen. Affecting predominantly large-breed dogs, HSA is associated with a nearly 100% death rate with most dogs surviving 3-6 months with treatment. Other splenic masses occur in dogs which may have better prognoses; however, there are not currently available methods to accurately differentiate HSA from other masses of the spleen prior to surgery and histopathology. There is a critical need to identify the presence of HSA earlier than is currently possible. MicroRNA are short segments of RNA that control gene expression and have been shown to be involved in cancer progression. Studies have shown that microRNA present in dogs with HSA are different than those present in normal dogs and dogs with other tumors. The objectives of this study are to identify microRNA present in the blood of dogs with HSA before and after removal of the spleen, and to determine a panel of microRNA that can discriminate dogs with HSA from dogs with other masses of the spleen. This will allow for earlier diagnosis, leading to improved prognosis, and also assist with more accurate monitoring for disease recurrence/progression.
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