Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2025
A Syngeneic Orthotopic Osteosarcoma Sprague Dawley Rat Model with Amputation to Control Metastasis Rate
Published on: May 3, 2021
Characterization of IGF2R Molecular Expression in Canine Osteosarcoma as Part of a Novel Comparative Oncology
Charles Boisclair1, Ryan Dickinson2, Sabeena Giri3
1Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada.
Abstract:
Progress in prognostic factors, treatments, and outcome for both canine and human osteosarcoma (OS) has been minimal over the last three decades. Surface overexpression of the cation independent mannose-6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor receptor type 2 (IGF2R) has been proven to occur in human OS cells. Subsequently, radioimmunotherapy (RIT) targeting IGF2R has demonstrated promising preliminary results. The main aims of this study were to investigate the expression of IGF2R in spontaneously occurring canine OS cells using immunohistochemistry (IHC) on archived biopsy samples and to assess its prognostic significance. Thirty-four dogs were included in the study. All cases showed that 80-100% of OS cells stained positive for IGF2R. IGF2R overexpression alone was not shown to have prognostic significance using both visual and quantitative methods of IHC staining intensity. This study has established for the first time the consistent expression of IGF2R in spontaneously occurring canine OS. This comparative oncology approach will allow further investigation into RIT as a novel treatment modality; first in canines and then in humans with OS. In addition, further studies should be performed to assess the true prognostic significance of IGF2R overexpression.
Insights
Canine osteosarcoma (OS) consistently expresses the insulin-like growth factor receptor type 2 (IGF2R), a potential target for radioimmunotherapy (RIT). However, IGF2R overexpression alone did not prove to have prognostic significance in this study.
Area of Science:
- Comparative oncology
- Canine and human cancer research
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Osteosarcoma (OS) in dogs and humans has seen limited treatment and prognostic advancements.
- Surface overexpression of the cation independent mannose-6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor receptor type 2 (IGF2R) is observed in human OS.
- Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) targeting IGF2R has shown preliminary promise in human OS treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate IGF2R expression in canine OS cells.
- To determine the prognostic significance of IGF2R in canine OS.
- To evaluate IGF2R as a potential therapeutic target in canine OS.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to analyze archived biopsy samples from 34 dogs with naturally occurring OS.
- Both visual and quantitative methods assessed IGF2R staining intensity.
- Statistical analysis was performed to correlate IGF2R expression with prognostic significance.
Main Results:
- Consistent IGF2R expression was found in 80-100% of canine OS cells across all cases.
- IGF2R overexpression did not demonstrate prognostic significance based on IHC staining intensity.
- This study confirms IGF2R expression in canine OS for the first time.
Conclusions:
- IGF2R is consistently expressed in canine osteosarcoma, supporting its potential as a therapeutic target.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the prognostic value of IGF2R overexpression.
- This comparative oncology approach paves the way for investigating RIT in canine and subsequently human OS.
