D07CA-616: MicroRNA Expression Profiling of Canine Osteosarcoma

principal investigator: Aimee Jalkanen, Veterinary Student Scholar, The Ohio State University

completed

Year: 1 of 1. $5,000

Osteosarcoma is a deadly bone cancer diagnosed in many dogs every year. Currently, most dogs treated for this cancer live less than a year. A better understanding of the genetics and biology of bone cancer may improve therapies. The veterinary scholar will be studying small portions of genetic code call microRNAs. Using a special detection tool called a microRNA array, she will compare the microRNAs from normal dog bone cells to those from cells affected by bone cancer. She hopes to develop a better understanding of what makes osteosarcoma cells different from normal bone cells. This could lead to new ways to treat this painful cancer, prolonging the lives of dogs and the time they can spend with their owners.

Results

Genetic Materials Collected to Study Bone Cancer
The student established four cell lines using bone chips taken from pieces of bone removed from four dogs undergoing hip surgery. These cells were then cultured under conditions to promote osteoblastic differentiation. Genetic material from these cells, called microRNA, will then be compared to the microRNA from osteosarcoma (bone cancer) cell lines and tissue samples to look for differences and similarities in the microRNA expression using a custom canine microRNA and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).