Data Sheet: Malignant Histiocytosis

Research Organization: North Carolina State University

Contact Person: Dr. Matthew Breen

Contact Phone: 919-513-1466

Email Address: CVM_K9Genomics@ncsu.edu

Project Web Site: http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/mbs/breen_m_recruit01.htm

About This Disease

Malignant histiocytosis is a hereditary disease found in the Bernese Mountain Dog characterized by histiocytic infiltration of the lungs and lymph nodes. The liver, spleen, and central nervous system can also be affected. Histiocytes are a component of the immune system that proliferate abnormally in this disease. In addition to its importance in veterinary medicine, the condition is also important in human pathology.

More information about this disease is available at http://http://www.bmdca.org/health/Cancer/Histiocytic_Diseases_of_the_Bernese_Mountain_Dog.php and
http://www.histiocytosis.ucdavis.edu/.

About This Research Project

A study of the "e;Genetics of Canine Cancer" is underway by Dr. Matthew Breen at the North Carolina State University at Raleigh, NC. Any Bernese Mountain Dog with a soft tissue sarcoma or malignant histiocytosis (with known pedigrees) can participate in this study. The affected dog(s) can be male or female (intact or neutered), and must have a diagnosis of a soft tissue sarcoma or malignant histiocytosis made by a licensed veterinarian.

Who can Participate

Any Bernese Mountain Dog with a known pedigree and veterinarian diagnosed soft tissue sarcoma or malignant histiocytosis.

What is Needed? (if you participate)

Owners of affected dogs will be required to sign informed consent forms authorizing use of blood and tumor biopsy material for research purposes. Consent forms are needed for the researchers to use your donated materials, so please print them out in full and follow the instructions. If youÕd like them to be able to share the materials with other researchers, please be sure to check the box that enables them to do so.

Participation in this study will require you to notify Dr. Breen (email address above) that your dog has a soft tissue sarcoma or histiocytic cancer and you would like to enroll him/her into the study. In the e-mail, please send your name, the name, sex and age of your dog, the site of tumor, the diagnosis, and the name, address and phone number of your vet. Also indicate the date that your dog will be having a biopsy.

The following materials should then be submitted to NCSU:

• 10-20 ml EDTA (lilac top) blood - your vet has these tubes
• a tumor biopsy in formalin (your vet has these collection tubes)
• a sterile piece of the tumor collected in sterile tumor tissue transport medium (Dr. Breen will send this to you or your vet if time permits) or into an empty, STERILE container (eg a red top tube which your vet will have)
  [NOTE: Tumor samples cannot be taken from dogs receiving chemotherapy. But contact them to be sure, genetic extraction techniques change.]
• Any pathology reports relating to the tumor
• AKC five generation pedigree
• A photograph (hard copy or by e-mail) of your dog.
• If your dog has already been diagniosed via an earlier biopsy, please arrange for your vet/pathology lab to send Dr. Breen the paraffin block containing the biopsy specimen.

Data Sheet Name: NCSU.html           Last Updated: Sep 6 2007           Proofed: AJH, PL