Volume: 4, 2025
4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: A033
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.A033
Published online: 9 April 2025
ICDSUPL, 4, A033 (2025)
Cell-free DNA as a blood biomarker for canine cancer
Kaja Ziółkowska-Twarowska1*, Paweł Grychnik1, Krzysztof Kowal1, Angelika Tkaczyk-Wlizło1, Brygida Ślaska1
1 Institute of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: kaja.ziolkowska@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
Neoplasms are the leading cause of death in canines that have reached over 10 years of age. Currently, there is an evident increase in the prevalence of the disease, and regrettably, majority of cases are also being diagnosed as malignant. The development of knowledge in the fields of veterinary medicine and genetic diagnostics has led to the identification of cancer development as the result of genetic and epigenetic changes in organism cells. However, determining a definitive treatment method still remains to be discovered. Nowadays, one of the main factors in improving dog outcomes is the early detection of cancer. For this purpose, tumour biopsies are most often performed; however, in canine cancers, these procedures typically target lesions that are already visible to the naked eye. Nevertheless, numerous biomarkers have been identified that allow for cancer detection without the need for pet anesthesia or surgical intervention. One such approach involves the analysis of circulating free DNA (cfDNA). cfDNA is released into the animal’s bloodstream as a result of natural cell death, as well as due to pathological processes, including neoplastic transformations. Research has indicated that elevated cfDNA concentrations may serve as a diagnostic indicator for the presence of a tumour, while DNA sequence analysis has been demonstrated to facilitate the identification of specific mutations associated with particular cancer types. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that plasma cfDNA levels correlate with clinical stage, with a significant increase in cfDNA being linked to metastatic lesions in dogs. The number of studies describing the use of cfDNA as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in tumour remains limited. However, given the encouraging findings obtained thus far, which demonstrate high specificity of analyses and the non-invasive nature of the method, further research in this area is essential. The potential for this to contribute to the development of widely accessible tests enabling early disease detection, and thereby facilitating timely initiation of treatment, is significant. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the diagnostic potential of circulating free DNA in canine oncology and its possible application as a non-invasive biomarker for early cancer detection.
The research was funded by the National Science Center, grant number 2019/35/B/NZ5/00775.
Keywords: dog, tumour, detection, cfDNA
How to cite
K. Ziółkowska-Twarowska, P. Grychnik, K. Kowal, A. Tkaczyk-Wlizło, B. Ślaska, 2025. Cell-free DNA as a blood biomarker for canine cancer. In: 4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.A033