Cancer Research Study: Owner's Flyer

Malignant Histiocytosis/Histiocytic Sarcoma and Soft Tissue Sarcomas in Flat-Coated Retrievers

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Malignant histiocytosis, also known as histiocytic sarcoma, is a highly breed-specific disease that affects both Flat-Coated Retrievers and Bernese Mountain Dogs in disproportionately higher numbers than other breeds. Currently, the FCR Foundation is funding three studies investigating this disease; one of the studies is also investigating other types of soft tissue sarcomas. Basic information on all three studies is outlined below. Please consider participating, if possible. The knowledge gained through these studies may allow treatment of these types of cancer in the future, as well as the development of genetic tests for carriers of the disease genes. A diagnosis of cancer is heart breaking, but your ailing companion could make a difference to the future health and longevity of our breed. Your dog could leave a Legacy of Hope for a brighter future for all Flat-Coated Retrievers and their owners.

If you suspect that your dog has malignant histiocytosis or a soft tissue sarcoma, please contact our Support Team: FCR-Cancer-Support@yahoogroups.com. The dedicated volunteers can help you decide which project(s) would benefit from your participation, guide you through the process, contact the researchers for you, and give you the most current instructions. Individual contacts for the Support Team are on the back of this flyer. If you prefer, you may contact the individual researchers directly.

For additional information, go to www.fcrsainc.org, where you will find Flyers, Consent Forms, Questionnaire, special Instructions for Postmortem Tissue Collection, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about study participation. All documents are also available from the Support Team.

Breen Study (Malignant Histiocytosis/Histiocytic Sarcoma and Soft Tissue Sarcomas)

Contact Dr. Breen at 919-513-1467(office phone), 919-513-1466 (lab phone), CVM_K9Genomics@ncsu.edu (E-mail) or 919-513-7301 (Fax)

• Dr. Matthew Breen is studying the genetic basis of malignant histiocytosis and soft tissue sarcomas.
• He needs both blood and tumor samples from dogs affected with these diseases.
• If you suspect, or your vet suspects, a soft tissue sarcoma or malignant histiocytosis, please call Dr. Breen before having a sample removed for biopsy.
• A sample can be collected at the same time as a sample for diagnosis. Dr. Breen will
  determine if it is a cancer that qualifies for the study, so any suspicious tumor should be submitted. For diagnostic purposes, a sample of your dog's tumor must also be sent to a regular pathology lab.
• Use of a special sampling kit is recommended, but not required. The kit is supplied free of charge and can be sent overnight and stored until it is needed. (Note: Kits will be unavailable - but samples can still be submitted! - from April through September 2006).
• Protocols for sample collection and preparation are available through the website or Support Team.
• If you already know that your dog has malignant histiocytosis or a soft tissue sarcoma, a sample can be collected at the time of death.
• If you plan to have tumor samples collected at the time of euthanasia, please refer to the special Instructions for Postmortem Tissue Collection available at the web site or from the Support Team.
• Dogs who have undergone chemotherapy or radiation therapy may NOT participate in this study.
• Dr. Breen also needs blood samples from first-degree relatives of affected dogs.
• Supporting documentation - Consent Form and 5-generation pedigree - can be sent separately.
• Dr. Breen would like you to send a photo of your dog (hard-copy or electronic) for the collage on the wall of his lab, which serves as a daily reminder that each of his cases is someone’s beloved pet.
• Dr. Breen will be recruiting at least through September 2006. If his grant is renewed,
  recruitment will continue through March 2008.
• More information and details on the Breen Study...

London Study (Malignant Histiocytosis/Histiocytic Sarcoma only)

Contact Dr. London at 614-292-9554 (phone), london.20@OSU.edu (E-mail) or 614-292-7599 (Fax)

• Dr. Cheryl London is using a genetic approach to analyze malignant histiocytosis and develop more effective therapeutics (i.e., treatments!) for affected dogs.
• Because tumor samples must be preserved with special stabilizing agent, A KIT IS REQUIRED. The kit is free of charge. Everything your vet requires to submit samples will be included in the kit.
• If you suspect malignant histiocytosis in your dog, please contact Dr. London ahead of time so that a collection kit can be sent to you in advance of biopsy or surgical removal.
• If you already know your dog is affected, you may request a kit to have on hand so samples can be submitted at the time of euthanasia. However, Dr. London can only use very fresh samples (either collected during surgery or harvested less than 2 hours postmortem).
• If you plan to have tumor samples collected at the time of euthanasia, please refer to the special Instructions for Postmortem Tissue Collection available at the web site or from the Support Team.
• Dogs undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy CAN participate in this research.
• The only supporting documentation required is a Questionnaire, which must be completed by the owner and can be sent separately from tumor samples.
• Dr. London has moved her lab to Ohio State University, as of November 1st, 2005.
• More information and details on the London Study...

Ostrander Study (Malignant Histiocytosis/Histiocytic Sarcoma only)

Contact Dr. Ostrander's samples manager Dana Mosher at 301-451-9390 (phone), mosherd@mail.nih.gov (E-mail) or 301-594-0023 (Fax), or Edouard Cadieu at cadieue@mail.nih.gov

• Dr. Elaine Ostrander's study involves dogs affected with malignant histiocytosis as well as dogs over 10 years of age who have never been diagnosed with cancer (for control purposes).
• The research is being done in collaboration with Dr. David Sargan at Cambridge University, UK.
• With recent advances in mapping the canine genome, it may now be possible to identify the gene that causes malignant histiocytosis in our dogs. That information will in turn allow the development of a genetic test to identify dogs that carry the mutation for this dread disease.
• The researchers need only blood, not tissue, from dogs participating in this study.
• Dr. Ostrander also has a kit that will be sent free of charge; it is not required but includes collection tubes for the blood and supporting paperwork to make the process easier.
• Supporting documentation includes a 5-generation pedigree and a Consent Form. In addition, a copy of the pathology report is required for affected dogs; a general description of the dog's health is required for healthy old dogs.
• The Consent Form comes with the kit or can be obtained from the Support Team.
• Dogs undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy CAN participate in this research.
• If you have submitted blood to the AHT DNA bank (donated blood at a Flat-Coated Retriever Specialty), the dog’s blood is already available for this study. All you need to do is submit a Consent Form and pathology report (if appropriate) to Dana Mosher.
• Health Updates: If a member of the healthy dog group is later diagnosed with any type of cancer, it is critical that this information be relayed to Dana Mosher so the dog can be removed from the control group.
• More information and details on the Ostrander Study...

Cancer Studies Support Team

Use our private, confidential group address: FCR-Cancer-Support@yahoogroups.com or contact anyTeam member directly:

Gay Coffin	jcoffin121@hotmail.com	eastern time zone	203-595-9489
Vicky Nickerson	seleya8@aol.com	eastern time zone	781-837-1566
Shirleen Roeder	shirleen.roeder@yale.edu	eastern time zone	203-453-1494
Jennifer Stanley	fowlplayfcr@verizon.net	pacific coast time zone	425-868-0213

Cancer Committee Chair: Shirleen Roeder