Dear Scottie Friends and Family:
It is with great excitement that I am writing you to tell you about a new
research study on bladder cancer (TCC) in Scottish Terriers.
Attached is a letter from Dr Elaine Ostrander and her team at the National
Human Genome Research Institute at NIH that is intended to be publicized to
all Scottie clubs, Internet Lists, and print media in order to formally
announce the study to Scottie owners and to request samples for this major
project.
A pre-proposal has been submitted to the AKC CHF for funding of this 2 year
project. I am certain the AKC CHF will be in contact with the STCA in the
future with details of this study.
There are few researchers today with as much respect and accomplishment in
the field of human and canine cancer genetics as Dr Ostrander. She is Chief
of the Cancer Genetics Branch at the National Human Genome Research
Institute of NIH and also heads the Section of Comparative Genetics. Her
lab at NIH works in both human and canine genetics. She has published over
150 papers and articles, and is currently leading a team of postdocs and
students on projects aimed at identifying variants associated with canine
diseases, finding genes regulating canine morphology, and understanding the
population dynamics of modern domestic breeds. Her current focus is on
finding disease genes associated with complex disorders such as cancer,
Addison's disease, and hip dysplasia.
Dr Ostrander will be collaborating with Dr Deborah Knapp at Purdue
University on this project. Dr Knapp is already well known and respected by
Scottie owners everywhere for her many years of ground breaking work on
Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC), including the first ever epidemiological
study of the disease in Scotties. Indeed, Dr Knapp has dedicated most of the
past 15 years to the study of TCC, including characterization of the disease
and clinical investigation of new, more effective therapies.
At this time, Drs. Ostrander and Knapp are requesting blood samples from
dogs with TCC, as well as unaffected dogs over the age of 5, who will serve
as a population based control group. As stated in the attached letter, Dr.
Ostrander's team is ready to accept samples immediately. Please feel free
to distribute this letter intended to owners of both affected and unaffected
dogs. I would like to request that the letter be published on the STCA web
site. In addition, I plan to distribute the letter to several Internet lists
and other print media including "Great Scots Magazine", and to Nancy Hurren
as the STCA Regional Club Rep.
Dr Ostrander has also requested that the STCA consider allowing a team from
her lab to be present at the National Rotating Specialty in Canton OH April
29-30 to collect samples at that time. The Ostrander Lab has all the blood
draw supplies necessary as well as lab members trained in proper animal
restraint techniques. With adequate publicity and lead time, there could be
a good response from Scottie owners in Canton. Dr. Ostrander's team would
be happy to do a presentation at the Specialty and answer questions about
the study if that is desired.
Drs. Ostrander and Knapp will be assisted by a top-notch research team, and
we will work together to find the answers to this devastating disease in our
Scotties. I am very excited about this work, and proud to be a part of it.
The key to our success, however, will be getting the samples to the
researchers in a timely fashion with the information they need. That is
where your participation is critical. With your help, there is light at the
end of this dark tunnel!
Marcia Dawson, DVM
Cancer Genetics Branch
National Human Genome Research
Institute
National Institutes of Health
50 South Drive, Bldg. 50, Room 534
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-8000
Phone: (301) 451-9390
Fax: (301) 594-0023
Bladder Cancer in the Scottish Terrier
The Ostrander Laboratory at the National Human Genome Research Institute at NIH in
collaboration with the Purdue Comparative Oncology Program at Purdue University and the
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the University of Minnesota is conducting
research on the genetic susceptibility to transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary
bladder in the Scottish Terrier. This is a devastating disease with genetic underpinnings
and our ultimate goal is to identify the genetic variants responsible for susceptibility to
this disease. Scottish Terriers are 20 times more likely to be diagnosed with TCC than
other dogs and treatment of advanced TCC has often been met with disappointing results.
Too many Scottish Terriers die each year as a result of this terrible disease.
Dr. Elaine Ostrander and her collaborators are searching for the genetic causes of TCC.
They will be looking at all the dog's chromosomes to find regions of the genome that
affected dogs share that occur with a decreased frequency in a population based sample of
the breed. Statistical tools are used to evaluate the data between the two groups of dogs
and to compare the data from Scotties to that being collected from other breeds. Indeed,
the Ostrander/Knapp groups will not only be collecting and testing DNA from Scottish
Terriers, but also West Highland White Terriers and Beagles. Our collaborator Dr. Liz
McNiel is a key player in helping inform potential study participants about the disease. Of
key interest will be the determination as to whether related breeds, such as the Westie and
Scottie, have inherited the disease from a common ancient ancestor.
The Ostrander Lab is soliciting blood samples from two groups of dogs. We seek samples
from dogs with a histopathological diagnosis (biopsy confirmed) of TCC. In addition, we
seek DNA from dogs over the age of five who currently have no known cancers.
If your dog meets one of these criteria, please contact Dana Mosher, Ostrander Lab
Samples Manager, for a sampling kit by phone (301-451-9390) or email
(mosherd@mail.nih.gov). Each kit contains a one page consent form, a pair of vials for
collecting 5-10 cc of blood at your veterinarian's office, and instructions for handling the
blood. The collection kit comes in a small cardboard mailer tube that protects the blood
vials. A return address label is included so that the forms and blood can be sent back to
the lab conveniently. Blood can be mailed at room temperature without cold packs.
All genetic and contact information collected for each dog will remain confidential.
Specifically, your participation in the study, your dog's pedigree, health information you
provide, and any data we get from your dog's DNA sample will not be disclosed to any
breeders, Club personnel, the AKC, or the AKC Canine Health Foundation.
The sample you provide will be instrumental in helping to identify the genomic mutations
associated with TCC. Every sample is precious and provides researchers with new and
unique genetic information. Finding the locus (the part of the DNA that is abnormal) is the
first step in what we expect will ultimately lead to a genetic test for TCC. Breeders could
use the test to make informed decisions resulting in a reduction of the disease in the
population. In addition, determining the genetic cause of the disease is a necessary first
step in developing strategies to prevent the cancer and develop therapies for affected
dogs.
Thank you in advance for your time and effort. Our work would not be possible without
the participation of responsive owners and club members like you. Please contact Dana
Mosher by phone or email with any questions or concerns you may have.