Plasma nucleosome concentrations can be a useful tool for treatment monitoring and disease progression in dogs with hematopoietic cancers.
This is according to VolitionRx, Ltd. The epigenetics company has shared the results of a study, evaluating the use of its proprietary nucleosome quantification technology, Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test.
Specifically, researchers used the suite of routine blood tests to assess circulating plasma nucleosome concentrations at diagnosis, throughout treatment, and during remission monitoring for 40 dogs with lymphoma, acute myelogenous leukemia, and multiple myeloma, says the study’s lead, Heather Wilson-Robles, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology). C-reactive protein and thymidine kinase-1 levels were also recorded.
The findings showed plasma nucleosome concentrations were “significantly higher” at diagnosis and progressive disease than they were when dogs were in remission, VolitionRx reports.
“The study also showed that nucleosome concentrations nearly always returned to the low range during treatment and are associated with clinical remission,” says Dr. Wilson-Roble, chief medical officer at Volition Veterinary. “In addition, nucleosome elevations often recur at the time of disease progression, mirroring the clinical course of the disease and that higher nucleosome levels are inversely correlated with survival.”
Cancers that begin in blood-forming tissue, such as bone marrow or in the cells of the immune system, are common in dogs and represent almost a third of malignancies diagnosed each year, according to VolitionRx.
“Veterinarians typically rely on physical exam findings, radiographs, ultrasound, and baseline blood work to monitor dogs with hematopoietic cancers for treatment response and remission status,” Wilson-Robles says. “However, to date, there has been a lack of useful circulating biomarkers available in veterinary medicine.”
The findings have been published in PLOS One. For more, click here.