Compataive Cytogenomics of Canine and Human Cancers

We have performed genome wide DNA copy number profiling of over 1,200 tumors representing a variety of common cancers. Each biopsy was obtained from patients with detailed histopathology and clinical follow up. We have identified numerous cytogenomic signatures associated with canine cancer subtypes and are using these as a foundation to offer a more sophisticated means of tumor diagnosis and early detection. We have also begun to define genomic lesions that correlate with patient outcome, leading to the development of new prognostic assays. Through genomic recoding we have compared our canine data to similar platform data from the corresponding cancers in human patients. These data provide strong evidence for a shared pathogenetic origin of several cancers affecting both species. By considering both genomes in such a comparative context, we see that the genomic complexity of some key cancers may be less than what human studies alone have suggested. A brief overview of some of these studies will be presented.