Ancestry and somatic profile predict acral melanoma origin and prognosis.

Acral melanoma, which is not ultraviolet (UV)-associated, is the most common type of melanoma in several low- and middle-income countries including Mexico. Latin American samples are significantly underrepresented in global cancer genomics studies, which directly affects patients in these regions as it is known that cancer risk and incidence may be influenced by ancestry and environmental exposures. To address this, here we characterise the genome and transcriptome of 128 acral melanoma tumours from 96 Mexican patients, a population notable because of its genetic admixture.

Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma with Cutaneous Metastasis in a Dog.

Primary lung cancer is rare in dogs and depending on the tumour stage and subtype, the prognosis can be poor. In this report, we describe a 10 year-old female intact Yorkshire terrier that presented progressive weight loss and chronic pain of unknown origin. Due to the poor condition of the dog, it was subsequently euthanized.

Clinical Use of Molecular Biomarkers in Canine and Feline Oncology: Current and Future.

Molecular biomarkers are central to personalised medicine for human cancer patients. It is gaining traction as part of standard veterinary clinical practice for dogs and cats with cancer. Molecular biomarkers can be somatic or germline genomic alterations and can be ascertained from tissues or body fluids using various techniques.

Review of Molecular Technologies for Investigating Canine Cancer.

Genetic molecular testing is starting to gain traction as part of standard clinical practice for dogs with cancer due to its multi-faceted benefits, such as potentially being able to provide diagnostic, prognostic and/or therapeutic information. However, the benefits and ultimate success of genomic analysis in the clinical setting are reliant on the robustness of the tools used to generate the results, which continually expand as new technologies are developed. To this end, we review the different materials from which tumour cells, DNA, RNA and the relevant proteins can be isolated and what methods are available for interrogating their molecular profile, including analysis of the genetic alterations (both somatic and germline), transcriptional changes and epigenetic modifications (including DNA methylation/acetylation and microRNAs).

Cutaneous Plasmacytoma with Systemic Metastases in a Cape Serotine Bat ().

Despite their relatively long life-spans, reports of neoplasia in bats are rare and are limited to a handful of cases. In this report, we describe a 2-year-old female wild Cape serotine bat () that had been caught by a domestic cat and presented with a skin mass over the chest area. Histopathological analysis of a subsequent biopsy revealed proliferating sheets of neoplastic round cells, occasionally appearing to form packets, supported by a fine, fibrovascular stroma.

Artificial Intelligence to Predict the BRAF V595E Mutation in Canine Urinary Bladder Urothelial Carcinomas.

In dogs, the mutation (V595E) is common in bladder and prostate cancer and represents a specific diagnostic marker. Recent advantages in artificial intelligence (AI) offer new opportunities in the field of tumour marker detection. While AI histology studies have been conducted in humans to detect mutation in cancer, comparable studies in animals are lacking.

Spotlight on Feline Oncology.

Cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in felines, with the majority of tumours (53-85% cases) being diagnosed as malignant [...

Advances in Understanding Spontaneously Occurring Melanoma in Animals.

Melanoma is a tumour that arises from the uncontrolled proliferation of melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) found in the skin (cutaneous melanoma and digital melanoma), mucosal surfaces (oral melanoma), and the eye (ocular melanoma) [...

Feline Oncogenomics: What Do We Know about the Genetics of Cancer in Domestic Cats?

Cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in domestic cats. In humans, an understanding of the oncogenome of different cancer types has proven critical and is deeply interwoven into all aspects of patient care, including diagnostics, prognostics and treatments through the application of targeted therapies. Investigations into understanding the genetics of feline cancers started with cytogenetics and was then expanded to studies at a gene-specific level, looking for mutations and expression level changes of genes that are commonly mutated in human cancers.

Sinonasal Meningioma in a Siberian Tiger ().

Meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumour in dogs and cats. However, whilst there are numerous reports of extracranial (spinal, orbital and sinonasal) meningiomas in the dog, there have only been a few case reports of spinal meningiomas, and no post-mortem confirmed orbital or sinonasal meningiomas in cats. In this report, a 20-year-old captive tiger () with a history of chronic ocular inflammation resulting in enucleation, spontaneously developed tetanic convulsions (epileptic seizures) that over a 2-year period resulted in a gradually worsening condition and the animal was eventually euthanized.

Transposon Mutagenesis Reveals RBMS3 Silencing as a Promoter of Malignant Progression of BRAFV600E-Driven Lung Tumorigenesis.

Unlabelled: Mutationally activated BRAF is detected in approximately 7% of human lung adenocarcinomas, with BRAFT1799A serving as a predictive biomarker for treatment of patients with FDA-approved inhibitors of BRAFV600E oncoprotein signaling. In genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models, expression of BRAFV600E in the lung epithelium initiates growth of benign lung tumors that, without additional genetic alterations, rarely progress to malignant lung adenocarcinoma. To identify genes that cooperate with BRAFV600E for malignant progression, we used Sleeping Beauty-mediated transposon mutagenesis, which dramatically accelerated the emergence of lethal lung cancers.

Metastatic Uterine Adenocarcinoma in a Sable Antelope ().

A nine-year-old intact female sable antelope () with a six-week history of gradual loss of body condition was found dead by the owner and presented for autopsy. Macroscopic examination revealed an enlarged spleen and liver with the hepatic and splenic parenchyma showing extensive infiltration with firm, white to cream-coloured nodules. The uterus showed a few small, firm, well-demarcated, white-to-cream-coloured nodules in the uterine body.

Metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder in a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica).

A 15-year-old spayed female Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) was presented with a short history of haematuria and dysuria, non-responsive to antibiotics, and a gradual decline to inappetence over a period of 2-3 months. Ultrasound examination showed a thickened urinary bladder wall and the renal pelvis of right kidney was dilated and cystic. A presumptive diagnosis of renal failure was made, and the tigress was euthanised due to deteriorating quality of life and pronounced weight loss.

Primary de-differentiated, trans-differentiated and undifferentiated melanomas: overview of the clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular spectrum.

Primary cutaneous and mucosal melanoma shows a wide histological spectrum. The correct diagnosis depends upon the demonstration of melanocytic differentiation by recognition of an associated in-situ component or immunohistochemical evidence of a melanocytic phenotype using conventional melanocytic markers, such as S-100, SOX10, Melan-A and HMB-45. Exceptionally, melanomas lose their melanocytic phenotype, at least focally, and show differentiation towards other lineages.

Successful Treatment of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Captive Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana).

Reptiles are popular exotic pets and green iguanas (Iguana iguana) are amongst the top ten most popular reptiles. Here we describe a captive 8-year-old female green iguana that was referred for treatment of a non-healing, discharging lesion on the side of the body. The lesion was surgically excised and histopathological analysis revealed an epidermal proliferation of neoplastic keratinocytes, with focal infiltration through the basement membrane, into the underlying superficial dermis.

Metastatic Cutaneous Melanoma in a White African Lioness ().

Malignant melanomas tend to be locally destructive, aggressive tumours commonly associated with recurrence and/or metastasis. In this report, a 13-year-old captive white African lioness (), with a recent history of intermittent bouts of lethargy and inappetence, presented with a distended abdomen (due to ascites) and a small, round crusty lesion on the ear. An abdominal ultrasound showed the presence of masses on the liver and an exploratory laparotomy revealed multiple pale lesions on the liver and omentum.

Successful treatment of early cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with hypofractionated radiation therapy in an African lion (Panthera leo).

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a slow growing but locally invasive neoplasm, most commonly caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Whilst SCC accounts for 15% of skin tumours in domesticated cats, cutaneous SCC in non-domesticated felids (apart from captive snow leopards) appears to be uncommon, with only three reports in the literature to date. In this report, a captive African lion (Panthera leo) presented with two ulcerative lesions on the nasal planum.

The clinicopathologic spectrum and genomic landscape of de-/trans-differentiated melanoma.

Dedifferentiation and transdifferentiation are rare and only poorly understood phenomena in cutaneous melanoma. To study this disease more comprehensively we have retrieved 11 primary cutaneous melanomas from our pathology archives showing biphasic features characterized by a conventional melanoma and additional areas of de-/trans-differentiation as defined by a lack of immunohistochemical expression of all conventional melanocytic markers (S-100 protein, SOX10, Melan-A, and HMB-45). The clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical findings were recorded and follow-up was obtained.