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Transcriptomic Profiling of Canine Mammary Tumours Reveals Significant Heterogeneity Between and Within Histological
Ingrid Marie Moberg1, Nina Hansen1, Helga Bergholtz2
1Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
Veterinary and Comparative Oncology
|April 16, 2026
Summary
This study analyzed canine mammary tumors (CMTs) transcriptomes, revealing molecular differences between benign and malignant tumors. Findings suggest a need for canine-specific gene expression markers for improved diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Comparative Genomics
Background:
- Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) represent a significant health concern in female dogs.
- Understanding the molecular basis of CMTs is crucial for developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
- Current classification relies on histopathology, but molecular characterization may offer deeper insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To perform a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of 128 CMTs.
- To identify molecular differences between various CMT subtypes and compare them to human breast cancer classifications.
- To explore the potential for developing novel, canine-specific molecular markers.
Main Methods:
- Differential gene expression analysis (DGE) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were applied to 128 CMT samples.
- Clustering based on the human PAM50 gene panel was used to assess similarities with human breast cancer subtypes.
- Analysis focused on identifying transcriptomic distinctions between benign and malignant tumors, and tumors with varying mitotic counts.
Main Results:
- Significant transcriptomic differences were observed between benign and malignant CMTs, and between tumors with high and low mitotic counts.
- Malignant tumors showed enrichment in gene sets related to cell cycle regulation, proliferation, inflammation, signaling, and metabolism.
- While two clusters showed resemblance to human basal-like and luminal A subtypes, others did not, indicating limitations in direct application of human classification systems.
Conclusions:
- CMTs exhibit significant molecular heterogeneity, not always correlating with histopathological classification.
- The direct application of human molecular classification systems to canine tumors requires adaptation.
- Developing canine-specific gene expression markers is essential for improved CMT diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes.
