Canine Mammary Tumors: A Microreview

Abstract

Canine Mammary Tumors (CMTs) spontaneously occurring in unspayed female dogs leads to 3 times higher mortality rate than Human Breast Cancer (Hussain, et al. 1). These two phenomena are very similar in the way they progress and develop which makes dogs a prime research target in order to better understand mammary tumors in both canines and humans. This is what sparked the start of the research studied in the manuscript “Gene expression profiling of spontaneously occurring canine mammary tumors…”. This research paper attempts to uncover more information by profiling genes associated with CMTs. Upregulation and overexpression of certain genes are two of the results that were analyzed and distinguishable between malignant and benign mammary tumors. By utilizing this data, comparisons could be made between the new canine discoveries and human knowledge that has already been discovered, furthering the understanding of mammary tumors in both species. Cancer is an issue that has been studied extensively, however, there is always more to learn. Different cancers act differently, as well as certain cancers act differently between species. This study is a step in the right direction to continue discovering new information that will lead to better prognosis and better treatment of such diseases.