May 19, 2016.
According to a study conducted by a team at the University of Uppsala, Sweden, brain tumors in certain breeds of dogs are the same as those developed in men. A discovery that opens up new and interesting perspectives for researchers.
Isolate the genes responsible for the tumor
This discovery risks significantly advancing research. Swedish scientists found that some breeds of dogs, such as boxers or bulldogs, developed the same brain tumors as humans. These are gliomas, the most common and aggressive forms of brain tumors.
If these dog breeds develop the same type of tumors, researchers will be able to better understand the disease. Starting from the dog’s genetic tree, they will be able to ” isolate genes that could be responsible for certain gliomas “. ” In our study, we hypothesized that since the brachycephalic dog breeds with high tumor risk are close, we may be able to identify a genomic region shared by these races Says Dr. Katarina Truve, lead author of the study.
Understanding the role of these genes in tumor development
According to the findings of this study, published in the journal PLoS Genetics, 3 genes would have been identified as associated with the tumor: CaMKK2, P2RX7 and DENR. If the researchers do not yet know what role these genes play, they have already announced that this research will be continued, in order to better understand what causes the development of this type of brain tumor.
Every year in France, 5,000 new cases of primary malignant brain tumors diagnosed, including 2,500 to 3,000 new cases of glioma. It is the 2nd cause of cancer in children, after blood cancers such as leukemia.
Read also: Brain tumor: sites of interest, support groups and references
