Assessment of canonical NF-κB activity in canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Evaluation of 41 single nucleotide polymorphisms in canine diffuse large B-cell lymphomas using MassARRAY

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of lymphoma in dogs with a multicentric form. This study aimed to assemble 41 variants of the previously reported genes and to investigate these variants in canine DLBCL using the Agena MassARRAY platform. These variants were chosen based on the high prevalence observed in canine B- and T-cell lymphomas, their significance for target therapy, and compatibility for multiplex PCR amplification. Lymph node biopsy was performed from 60 dogs with B-cell lymphoma comprising 47 purebred and 13 crossbred dogs. All dogs presented single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at HYAL4 and SATB1 genes. The lesser mutual SNPs were observed at SEL1L, excluding a cocker spaniel, and c-Kit, with the exception of a pug and a French bulldog. Even though no statistical association was noted between each SNP and dog breed, purebreds were 3.88 times more likely to have a SNP at FLT3 rs852342480 (95%CI 0.50–45.03, p = 0.26), 3.64 times at TRAF3 F306X (95%CI 0.58–42.50, p = 0.43) and 2.66 times at TRAF3 E303EX (95%CI 0.56–13.12, p = 0.31). Also, DLBCL dogs (CHOP-based treatment) with c-Kit T425= had a poorer prognosis with shorter median overall survival times (OST) than dogs with the wild type. Dogs treated with COP chemotherapy and contained 3–5 variants at SEL1L were associated with decreased median OST. Therefore, this SNP’s lymphoma panel provides valuable information that we can use to outline a prognosis and develop a treatment plan for the targeted therapy of each dog.

Improving human cancer therapy through the evaluation of pet dogs

Comparative oncology clinical trials play an important and growing role in cancer research and drug development efforts. These trials, typically conducted in companion (pet) dogs, allow assessment of novel anticancer agents and combination therapies in a veterinary clinical setting that supports serial biologic sample collections and exploration of dose, schedule and corresponding pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships. Further, an intact immune system and natural co-evolution of tumour and microenvironment support exploration of novel immunotherapeutic strategies. Substantial improvements in our collective understanding of the molecular landscape of canine cancers have occurred in the past 10 years, facilitating translational research and supporting the inclusion of comparative studies in drug development. The value of the approach is demonstrated in various clinical trial settings, including single-agent or combination response rates, inhibition of metastatic progression and randomized comparison of multiple agents in a head-to-head fashion. Such comparative oncology studies have been purposefully included in the developmental plan for several US FDA-approved and up-and-coming anticancer drugs. Challenges for this field include keeping pace with technology and data dissemination/harmonization, improving annotation of the canine genome and immune system, and generation of canine-specific validated reagents to support integration of correlative biology within clinical trial efforts.

Targeting NEDD8-activating enzyme is a new approach to treat canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common hematologic malignancy of dogs, is associated with poor overall survival. The lack of conventional chemotherapies with sustainable efficacy warrants investigation of novel therapies. Pevonedistat (MLN4924) is a potent and selective small molecule NEDD8-activating enzyme inhibitor. In human activated B-cell-like (ABC) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, pevonedistat induces lymphoma cell apoptosis, DNA damage and G1 cell cycle arrest by inhibiting the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. Genomic and transcriptomic studies showed that the NF-κB pathway is deregulated in canine DLBCL. Our results showed that pevonedistat treatment significantly reduces the viability of canine DLBCL cells by inducing G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Pevonedistat treatment inhibits NF-κB pathway activation and downregulates NF-κB target genes in canine DLBCL. Moreover, administration of pevonedistat to mice bearing canine DLBCL xenograft tumours resulted in tumour regression. Our in vivo and in vitro studies provide justification for future clinical application of pevonedistat as a potential new anti-cancer therapy that may benefit both canine and human species.