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A second transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils.

Ruth J Pye1, David Pemberton2, Cesar Tovar1

  • 1Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia;

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
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A second transmissible cancer, DFT2, has been identified in Tasmanian devils. This discovery suggests transmissible cancers may be more common than previously thought and poses new challenges for devil conservation.

Keywords:
Tasmanian devilTasmanian devil facial tumor diseasecontagious cancertransmissible cancer

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Area of Science:

  • Cancer Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Conservation Genetics

Background:

  • Clonally transmissible cancers spread between individuals via living cancer cells.
  • Only three naturally occurring transmissible cancers are known, affecting dogs, clams, and Tasmanian devils.
  • The Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) has threatened the species with extinction since 1996, previously linked to a single cancer lineage (DFT1).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the discovery and characterization of a second transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils.
  • To investigate the genetic and cytogenetic relationship of this new cancer to DFT1 and its hosts.
  • To assess the implications for Tasmanian devil conservation and the broader understanding of transmissible cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Descriptive case series of five affected devils in southern Tasmania.
  • Gross and histological examination of facial tumors.
  • Cytogenetic analysis, including aneuploidy assessment.
  • Microsatellite, structural variant, and MHC genotyping to compare cancer lineage with host and DFT1.

Main Results:

  • A second distinct transmissible cancer, DFT2, was identified in five Tasmanian devils.
  • DFT2 tumors were grossly similar but histologically distinct from DFT1.
  • DFT2 showed no cytogenetic similarity to DFT1, carried a Y chromosome (unlike female-derived DFT1), and was MHC-discordant with hosts, confirming it as a second transmissible cancer.
  • Tasmanian devils have at least two independent transmissible cancer lineages.

Conclusions:

  • The discovery of DFT2 indicates Tasmanian devils are prone to developing transmissible cancers.
  • This finding suggests transmissible cancers may arise more frequently in nature than previously assumed.
  • The emergence of DFT2 presents significant challenges for the conservation of the Tasmanian devil population.