Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Dogs With Appendicular Osteosarcoma

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Oncology
• Biomarker Discovery
• Canine Cancer Research

Background:

• Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a prognostic indicator in human osteosarcoma.
• Its utility as a prognostic biomarker in canine appendicular osteosarcoma requires evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess serum LDH as a prognostic biomarker in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma.
• To correlate LDH levels with disease stage, metastasis, and survival outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective enrollment of 52 dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma.
• Serum LDH levels measured at diagnosis before treatment.
• Analysis of association between LDH and metastasis, time to progression, and overall survival.

Main Results:

• Elevated LDH was observed in 65.4% of dogs.
• A significant association exists between elevated LDH and metastasis (p=0.039).
• Dogs with elevated LDH had significantly shorter median time to progression and overall survival.

Conclusions:

• Elevated serum LDH at diagnosis suggests advanced appendicular osteosarcoma and poorer prognosis in dogs.
• LDH can aid in treatment planning and prognosis assessment for canine osteosarcoma.
• Further research is recommended to combine LDH with other biomarkers for refined prognostic evaluation.