Canine lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in dogs, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Health Foundation. And three breeds are more predisposed to it than others: boxers, cocker spaniels, and retrievers.

Researchers from eight U.S. and international institutions of veterinary and human medicine studied the somatic mutations in B- and T-cell lymphomas from these breeds by exome sequencing of tumor. Their results were published Sept. 16 in Genome Research. 

“Working with the tumor DNA of golden retrievers, cocker spaniels, and boxers, we have identified genes with known involvement in human lymphoma and other cancers as well as novel genes that could help in the discovery of much-needed new treatment options for cancer,” said Jessica Alfoldi, PhD, research scientist at Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, and senior author.

The results are beneficial not only to humans but also  their canine companions who share the disease.

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