Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is an aggressive cancer of macrophages and dendritic cells, and causes significant morbidity and mortality in Bernese Mountain Dogs, among other breeds.  Our studies have provided insights into mutations that are key to this aggressive progression. We are excited to launch our liquid biopsy research to detect specific mutations in the blood of Berners with histiocytic sarcoma, based on our pioneering studies. This will greatly facilitate monitoring of treatments as well as, in the future, early diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma and eventually other cancers, helping us to implement effective therapies. This is supported by the Berner-Garde Foundation and will not incur any costs to the participants.

Please click here if you would like to participate in this study.

With the help of the Berner community and support from the Berner Garde Foundation and the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, we have established an extensive DNA and Tumor Repository. Going forward, we will be adding to the Repository only samples that are part of a specific project. Therefore samples from both the clinical trial and the liquid biopsy project will be added to the Repository as they become available. 

Our team was the first to show that histiocytic sarcoma was responsive to treatment with trametinib, a drug that specifically targets the pathway that drives tumor development in histiocytic sarcoma. We are delighted to bring this treatment to Bernese Mountain Dogs and other dogs with histiocytic sarcoma after showing that it is safe and determining the maximal tolerated dose. This is a multi-institutional study, funded by the Morris Animal Foundation, with support from the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America. The clinical trial is led jointly by Drs. Marila Takada (at University of Florida, U) and Dr. Vilma Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan (Michigan State University, MSU).  Clinical trials will be ongoing at Michigan State University, University of Florida, University of Wisconsin and Virgina Tech.  

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Please click here if you would like to participate. 

In Newfoundland dogs, a type of chondrodysplasia leads to deformity of the elbow joint. The disease does not appear to have a simple inheritance pattern. We are utilizing GWAS as well as long read sequencing of trios of affected dogs and parents to identify loci contributing to this disorder.