Canine Osteosarcoma: A Confirmed Breed Predisposition

Osteosarcomas are the most common bone tumors in dogs. However, certain breeds are at greater risk than others. Researchers have shown that large-breed dogs are particularly prone to this aggressive cancer, suggesting a genetic cause. The findings could lead to improved treatment for this cancer not only in dogs but also in humans. Osteosarcoma is a painful and aggressive bone tumor in dogs. Certain breeds appear to be at greater risk than others of developing this cancer, and a new study by the Bristol Veterinary School, in collaboration with Cardiff University and the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in London, confirms this. Large dog breeds have a higher risk of osteosarcoma compared to small breeds. Thus, dogs with longer skulls and limbs are more likely to develop this cancer. The researchers compared 1,756 confirmed cases of osteosarcoma in dogs against a database of 905,211 dogs. They found that 27 dog breeds—including the Rottweiler, Great Dane, Mastiff, German Shorthaired Pointer, and Rhodesian Ridgeback, which are primarily large breeds—have an increased risk of osteosarcoma. Conversely, 30 breeds—mostly small breeds, including the Jack Russell Terrier, Border Terrier, Bichon Frisé, French Bulldog, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel—are less likely to develop osteosarcoma. Large and even giant-sized dogs should therefore be monitored closely. While osteosarcoma can affect any breed, owners of high-risk dogs should be particularly alert to signs of the disease (lameness, painful swelling of a limb). The study also compared various measures of body mass and limb length, concluding that heavier dogs with longer limbs and skulls are at the highest risk of developing these bone tumors. Among other things, this correlation suggests a potential genetic basis for the onset of this cancer. The researchers hope to deepen their understanding of the underlying causes of bone tumor development and how these tumors might be treated in the future. In particular, they plan to sequence certain genes in at-risk breeds to identify the genetic factors involved. Identifying these factors could aid in the search for new therapeutic targets and even contribute to the development of new drugs to improve the medical management of osteosarcomas in dogs. These findings could also lead to breed-specific treatment approaches for dogs affected by this cancer. But dogs are not the only ones to benefit from these advances. The study also highlights the value of the canine model for studying this cancer in humans, who are also susceptible to osteosarcomas. A better understanding of the biology of these bone tumors in both species will lead to improved management, in both human medicine and veterinary medicine. Once again, human and animal health are interconnected, and the “One Health” approach offers the opportunity to pool diverse expertise toward a new, shared therapeutic goal.