MicroRNAs in serum and tissue can differentiate splenic hemangiosarcoma from other splenic masses in dogs

Title (eng)
MicroRNAs in serum and tissue can differentiate splenic hemangiosarcoma from other splenic masses in dogs
Author
Latasha Ludwig
University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
Author
Brigitte Degasperi
Author
Ingrid Walter
Author
Deirdre Stuart
University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
Author
Robert A. Foster
University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
Author
Robert Darren Wood
University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
Author
R. Ayesha Ali
University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
Author
Geoffrey A. Wood
University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
Author
Heather Treleaven
University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
Author
Arlene Khachadoorian
University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
Abstract (eng)
Splenic masses are common in dogs and vary dramatically in their clinical behavior. Clinically, and even with histology, it can be challenging to differentiate between benign and malignant splenic masses. Hemangiosarcoma (HSA), the most common malignancy of the spleen, is a very aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis. We hypothesize that microRNAs (miRNAs) in mass tissue and serum can differentiate between HSA and other splenic masses. Fifty-nine miRNAs were investigated by reverse-transcription followed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in serum and/or tissue from dogs with HSAs (serum n = 24 and tissue n = 17; postsplenectomy serum n = 11), lymphomas (serum n = 8 and tissue n = 11), nonangiomatous nonlymphomatous sarcomas (serum n = 6 and tissue n = 10), histiocytic sarcomas (tissue n = 4), benign splenic masses (myelolipomas, nodular hyperplasia, and hematomas; total serum n = 21 and total tissue n = 35), and normal dogs (serum n = 14 and tissue n = 7). Numerous miRNAs were differentially expressed in serum and tissue of HSA cases compared to those with other splenic masses or normal spleens. In serum, our 5-miRNA model (miR-135a-5p, miR-10a, miR-450b, miR-152-3p, and miR-126-5p) accurately classified 100% (24/24) of dogs with HSA from normal dogs and those with a benign splenic mass (recall = 1 for HSA). The overall accuracy of the model was 86%. In HSA and benign splenic mass tissues, our 3-miRNA model (miR-126-5p, miR-502-3p, and miR-452-5p) accurately classified 96% of the cases. This study demonstrates the utility of miRNA models in serum and tissue for screening and diagnosis of HSA in dogs. Future studies include the evaluation of prospective and prediagnosis serum samples.
Keywords (eng)
DiagnosisDogHemangiosarcomamicroRNAsSerumSplenic MassesTissue
Type (eng)
journal article
Language
[eng]
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4845
DOI
10.1177/03009858251317466
Is in series
Title (eng)
Veterinary Pathology
Volume
62
Issue
5
ISSN
0300-9858
Issued
2025
Number of pages
13
From page
659
To page
671
Publication
SAGE
Version type (eng)
version of record (published version)
Date issued
2025
Access rights (eng)
open access
License
CC BY-NC 4.0 International
Rights statement (eng)
© The Author(s) 2025