Identifying Targetable Markers for Novel Radiation Therapy

SUMMARY: Researchers will use a technique called single-cell RNA sequencing to identify surface markers specific to canine hemangiosarcoma cells as a first step toward the development of a more effective and precise therapy.

DESCRIPTION: Dogs with hemangiosarcoma often present as an emergency because they have a ruptured and bleeding tumor mass in their abdomen. Unfortunately, this cancer usually spreads, and most dogs will die within 2-3 months after removal of the bleeding tumor. Adjunct chemotherapy drugs extend survival to a mere 4-6 months. Survival improvement for dogs with HSA has been stagnant over the decades and better treatments are desperately needed. To help improve outcomes for dogs with HSA, researchers will investigate a new technology, single-cell RNA sequencing, and its ability to provide a broader picture of gene expression in HSA cancer cells compared to normal tissue. This new information will help with the discovery process for common markers of canine hemangiosarcoma that can be used to develop new treatments against this deadly cancer.