zur Diskussion hierThe Animal Health Trust (AHT) in Newmarket would like to invite you to take part in a study being carried out on a type of cancer that affects Greyhounds. You have been sent this letter by the Kennel Club, on behalf of the AHT, because you are the registered owner of a Greyhound. However, please note that the fact that you have been sent this letter in no way implies that we believe your dog will become affected by osteosarcoma. We sincerely hope that you will be able to participate in the study as it may help future generations of dogs. However, if you have already contributed to our study thank you for your help.
At the AHT we are undertaking research that is seeking to address the issue that pedigree dogs develop cancer more frequently than people. We hope that this research will eventually lead to both a reduction in the numbers of dogs affected by common cancers, and the development of new treatments for these cancers.
We would like your help with a research study that is attempting to identify inherited ‘genetic alterations’ that cause Greyhounds to have a higher risk of developing osteosarcoma (bone cancer) than most other pedigree dog breeds. In the long term, we hope that the research will lead to the development of a ‘DNA test’ to identify Greyhounds that carry the genetic alterations that cause the increased risk. Such a test will be invaluable for vets as it will identify dogs who may benefit from careful monitoring for early detection of cancer (enabling early treatment), and it will also help breeders to reduce the incidence of Greyhounds affected by osteosarcoma. Significantly, the research will increase understanding of how osteosarcoma develops, promoting the development of new therapies.
Investigators in the United States (US) have already identified 14 regions of the DNA in US Greyhounds which appear to contain genetic alterations that may be responsible for an inherited susceptibility to osteosarcoma. The relevance of the findings of the US research study to Greyhounds in the UK depends upon when in the history of the breed the genetic alterations associated with osteosarcoma arose. The only way to establish the relevance is to look at the regions of the DNA (which in US Greyhounds are associated with osteosarcoma) in UK Greyhounds to see if they resemble the corresponding regions in US Greyhounds. If UK Greyhounds are found to possess the same genetic alterations as US dogs, a DNA test arising from the research conducted in the US could be used to identify UK Greyhounds that have an increased risk of developing osteosarcoma. However, if it appears that the UK dogs are likely to contain different genetic alterations to those that the US dogs possess then it will be necessary to undertake an entirely new research study to identify genetic alterations associated with osteosarcoma in UK Greyhounds.
Please could you help us with our studies?
Taking part is easy.
If your dog has been diagnosed with osteosarcoma we would like to hear from you. Simply E-mail oncologyres@aht.org.uk, or telephone 01638 751000 Ext. 1214, to request a cheek swab kit. Each kit is supplied with x 3 swabs, full instructions, a sample submission form and a reply envelope. Unfortunately, as a charity we are unable to pay for the swabs to be returned to us, but a ‘large letter’ first class or second class stamp will cover the return postage. If you submit cheek swabs, we will also ask you if it is possible for you to ask your vet to retain (in a special preservative that we will provide) for our research a small piece of any tumour biopsy that is surgically removed.
The more samples that we receive the more likely it is that we will be able to identify inherited genetic alterations that cause Greyhounds to have a higher risk of developing osteosarcoma. If you submit a sample, all information relating to you and your dog will remain strictly confidential.
If you have any questions about taking part in the study, please contact Victoria Pilfold-Wilkie by E-mail to oncologyres@aht.org.uk or by telephoning 01638 751000 Ext. 1214. Further information about the work that we do at the Animal Health Trust can be found on our website at http://www.aht.org.uk.
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