Targeting a Genetic Mutation Associated with Canine Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer accounts for approximately 2 percent of all reported malignancies in dogs and treatment is challenging at best; most dogs eventually succumb to the disease. Recent studies have shown that 75 percent of dogs with bladder cancer have a specific genetic mutation associated with the disease. In humans, drugs targeting this mutation are used to treat a variety of cancers. Researchers will survey archived bladder tumor tissues to determine the prevalence of the mutation, as well as assess cancer cell survival and proliferation associated with the mutation. Researchers then will test drugs currently available in human medicine on canine cell lines with the mutation with the aim of developing new strategies to treat bladder cancer in dogs.