Abstract IA021: Studies of aging, morphology, and cancer in the domestic dog

Abstract

Abstract Each of the nearly 450 domestic dog breeds in existence today has a unique history and genetic profile. Early in the domestication process, dogs were bred to perform specific tasks such as herding, guarding and hunting. Later, fanciers developed hundreds of breeds, often displaying variation in body morphology, including shape and size, in addition to coat color, skull shape, leg length, etc. We are interested in understanding the genetic underpinnings of that variation, and applying those results to studies of growth regulation, normal and abnormal behavior and disease susceptibility. Dogs are a naturally-occurring model for many complex human disorders, including cancer. One in two dogs that live to be ten or older will develop cancer in their lifetimes, with most common human cancers occur spontaneously in dogs. This offers unique opportunities to study cancer susceptibility, progression and treatment response. The high rate of single types of cancer in some breeds, such as histiocytic sarcoma in Bernese Mountain Dogs or invasive bladder cancer in Scottish Terriers offers specific advantages for genetic studies that do not exist in human population studies. As with cancer, domestic dogs present interesting opportunities for studies of aging. Surprisingly, small breeds typically live longer than larger breeds, offering the chance to study the interaction between morphology and lifespan. To take advantage of these opportunities, we have assembled the largest and most diverse dataset of dog breeds and other canines to date, with canines originating from six continents, reflecting the extensive phenotypic variation and heritage that coalesce in modern dogs, and identified over 90 million single nucleotide variants. In this presentation we explore the genetics of cancer and aging in dogs, drawing parallels to the human condition. Citation Format: Elaine A. Ostrander. Studies of aging, morphology, and cancer in the domestic dog [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Aging and Cancer; 2022 Nov 17-20; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;83(2 Suppl_1):Abstract nr IA021.