2006-07: Project Three
Is PCR analysis an effective tool for diagnosing lymphosarcoma in dogs?
Drs. Kathi Ellis, Beverly Kidney, Marion Jackson, Elisabeth Snead and Monique Mayer
A group of WCVM scientists are working on a more efficient, less invasive way to diagnose lymphosarcoma in dogs. The team will test whether PCR (polymerase chain reaction) analysis of DNA from a cytology slide containing canine lymph node and tissue cells can help veterinarians determine the phenotype of lymphosarcoma and confirm diagnosis by detecting clonality (phenotype is the expression of a specific trait based on genetic and environmental influences). If this method is successful, it may eliminate the need for obtaining invasive biopsies for further testing.
Determining the phenotype (B cell versus T cell) involved in individual lymphosarcoma cases is extremely valuable in establishing a diagnosis, prognosis and a therapy plan. Through this study, researchers will determine whether PCR is effective in determining the phenotype of the cancer, whether it can be used to differentiate reactive and neoplastic lymphocytes in lymphoid tissue, and whether PCR analysis using DNA from a dog’s peripheral blood is more sensitive than microscopic examination of a blood film for cancerous lymphocytes. As well, the team will also look at whether PCR is effective in detecting relapsed or residual disease in canine patients.
