Dog Research Offers Information For Human Brain Cancer

Study of brain tumors in dogs can also prove beneficial for humans since the development is almost similar for both. Analyzing genetics in various types of dogs is said to be helpful in identifying genes which can also cause tumors in a person's brain.

EurekAlert said a study conducted by researchers from Uppsala University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences said that gliomas or severe brain tumors in dogs can happen to selected or certain types of dogs. Particularly, these are the bulldog or boxer breeds. "[The] dog breeds with elevated risk are closely related we would be able to identify a genomic region shared by those breeds," study author Katarina Truve said.

Genetic markers

She explained that the presence of this brain tumor could be detected by comparing genetic markers among dogs. Truve added that they also performed analysis on the genes to "narrow" down where these originated.

It was added by a Medical News Today report that there are only certain dog breeds which are prone to this type of disease. The malignant mass that grows inside a dog's brain could also be similar to the tumor that can develop inside a human brain.

Having dogs as models for the disease may be useful for humans since doctors claim that they have the same DNA as humans and also live in a similar environment. Aside from this, pure breed dogs are also well fed and taken care of.

Continuous study to be conducted

Despite the findings, WebMD noted that it still does not prove that genes could be one of the causes of brain cancer. It was also explained that conditions of animals could not always be true for humans.

Researchers added that they will continue to study certain genes among dogs. This could also determine the progress and development of tumors among dogs and humans.