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CHCC@vai.org
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Melanoma is a form of cancer in which the pigment-producing cells of the skin, melanocytes, multiply in an uncontrolled manner. Canine melanoma can be malignant or benign; malignant cancer is capable of spreading from the original tumor to lymph nodes and distant organs. Once melanoma is established in an organ, additional tumors grow and often ultimately cause the death of the animal. Canine melanoma is frequently malignant when it occurs in the mouth, toes or behind the eyes. Oral melanoma, for example, is a particularly aggressive subtype of the disease, with a 5-year survival rate of 10 - 25%.
Specific breeds appear to be predisposed to melanoma of different body sites. These subtypes of melanoma that are thought to be genetically distinct and bear considerable similarity to those found in humans. The goals of this study are to identify the genetic lesions that contribute to risk of developing melanoma, as well as to identify individualized treatments for oral melanoma. To investigate melanoma, the CHCC has organized a team consisting of Drs. Jeff Trent 
and Kevin Brown at TGen. Drs. Trent and Brown are members of the International Melanoma Genetics Consortium (GenoMEL) and are already collaborating with this Consortium to identify genetic factors that predispose humans to developing melanoma. In this capacity, this team has been involved in multiple genome-wide studies of melanoma risk in humans similar to those to be performed in canines as a part of the CHCC. Thus, this team is well positioned to look for similarities in the genetics of melanoma between humans and dogs and translate these findings to benefit both human and canine health.
