Osteosarcoma (OSA) is a type of aggressive bone cancer that mainly affects large-breed purebred dogs. It is the most common bone cancer in both dogs and humans, but survival rates have not improved much in many decades. More than 90% of dogs with OSA already have cancer that has spread to other parts of the body when diagnosed, and most of them do not live more than two years after that. Scientists are working on a new way to detect this cancer early on, even before it spreads.

For this project, the researchers are testing a method called Raman spectroscopy (RS), which involves a simple blood test. The idea is that when a tumor forms, it causes many changes in the body, and RS can detect this combination of changes like a unique fingerprint. This test could be a game-changer because it is rapid, accurate, only requires a small amount of blood, and is relatively inexpensive compared to other methods that detect these types of substances. The investigators propose to use the information from these tests to create computer programs that can quickly and accurately determine if a dog has osteosarcoma. If successful, this test could be used not only for early diagnosis and screening but also to monitor for when the cancer comes back after treatment. This new test could change the way veterinarians diagnose cancer, helping to prolong the lives of many dogs each year.