Information on an interesting AKC Canine Health Foundation grant that Bouvier Health Foundation helped fund last year.
Research Progress Report Summary
Grant 02864-A: Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Activation in Canine Hemangiosarcoma Cells
Principal Investigator: Michelle Kutzler, DVM, PhD
Research Institution: Oregon State University
Grant Amount: $11,718
Start Date: 2/1/2021 End Date: 1/31/2022
Progress Report: Mid-Year 1
Report Due: 7/31/2021 Report Received: 7/29/2021
Principal Investigator: Michelle Kutzler, DVM, PhD
Research Institution: Oregon State University
Grant Amount: $11,718
Start Date: 2/1/2021 End Date: 1/31/2022
Progress Report: Mid-Year 1
Report Due: 7/31/2021 Report Received: 7/29/2021
(The content of this report is not confidential and may be used in communications with your organization.)
Original Project Description:
Hemangiosarcoma is an aggressive, silent cancer that sometimes snares its victims without any sign of
illness. In the U.S., hemangiosarcoma is believed to be responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands
of dogs each year. German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers are most
commonly affected but this cancer affects all dogs. While there is no cure, early surgical intervention
and chemotherapy treatment may prolong the lives of dogs afflicted with hemangiosarcoma.
Additional treatment options are needed to increase life expectancy and possibly even prevent the
development of this deadly disease. Several studies have shown that spayed female dogs have a two-
to ten-fold increase for developing hemangiosarcoma compared to intact female dogs. This may be
due to overproduction of luteinizing hormone (LH) following spay or neuter. Investigators have
previously demonstrated that hemangiosarcoma tissues collected from dogs have binding sites for LH.
The proposed research will determine if LH binding to these sites increases cancer cell growth. The
results of this research may allow for a better understanding of the relationship between spaying or
neutering and the development of hemangiosarcoma. In addition, future development of a method to
reduce LH secretion in spayed or neutered dogs may lower the risk for some breeds to develop
hemangiosarcoma.
Publications: There are no publications from this research yet.
Presentations:
The results from the LHR immunocytochemistry will be presented as a virtual poster at the 2021
Oregon State University Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence conference in September 2021. There
are no other presentations from this research yet.
Report to Grant Sponsor from Investigator:
In the United States, spaying and neutering of dogs and cats is commonly performed to prevent the
birth of unwanted pets. However, surgically removing the ovaries or testes may have unexpected
consequences. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered have an increased risk for developing obesity,
urinary incontinence, hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes, cruciate ligament tears, hip
dysplasia, and cancer. Hemangiosarcoma is a rapidly growing, highly invasive cancer arising from the
lining of blood vessels of any tissue. More than half of all canine hemangiosarcoma tumors are in the
spleen. Spayed female dogs are reported to have two to ten times the risk for developing splenic
hemangiosarcoma compared to intact female dogs. This funded study is investigating the hormonal
and cellular relationships between spaying/neutering and the development of splenic
hemangiosarcoma so that new treatments may be available in the future to extend life expectancies of
dogs with cancer.
Original Project Description:
Hemangiosarcoma is an aggressive, silent cancer that sometimes snares its victims without any sign of
illness. In the U.S., hemangiosarcoma is believed to be responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands
of dogs each year. German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers are most
commonly affected but this cancer affects all dogs. While there is no cure, early surgical intervention
and chemotherapy treatment may prolong the lives of dogs afflicted with hemangiosarcoma.
Additional treatment options are needed to increase life expectancy and possibly even prevent the
development of this deadly disease. Several studies have shown that spayed female dogs have a two-
to ten-fold increase for developing hemangiosarcoma compared to intact female dogs. This may be
due to overproduction of luteinizing hormone (LH) following spay or neuter. Investigators have
previously demonstrated that hemangiosarcoma tissues collected from dogs have binding sites for LH.
The proposed research will determine if LH binding to these sites increases cancer cell growth. The
results of this research may allow for a better understanding of the relationship between spaying or
neutering and the development of hemangiosarcoma. In addition, future development of a method to
reduce LH secretion in spayed or neutered dogs may lower the risk for some breeds to develop
hemangiosarcoma.
Publications: There are no publications from this research yet.
Presentations:
The results from the LHR immunocytochemistry will be presented as a virtual poster at the 2021
Oregon State University Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence conference in September 2021. There
are no other presentations from this research yet.
Report to Grant Sponsor from Investigator:
In the United States, spaying and neutering of dogs and cats is commonly performed to prevent the
birth of unwanted pets. However, surgically removing the ovaries or testes may have unexpected
consequences. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered have an increased risk for developing obesity,
urinary incontinence, hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes, cruciate ligament tears, hip
dysplasia, and cancer. Hemangiosarcoma is a rapidly growing, highly invasive cancer arising from the
lining of blood vessels of any tissue. More than half of all canine hemangiosarcoma tumors are in the
spleen. Spayed female dogs are reported to have two to ten times the risk for developing splenic
hemangiosarcoma compared to intact female dogs. This funded study is investigating the hormonal
and cellular relationships between spaying/neutering and the development of splenic
hemangiosarcoma so that new treatments may be available in the future to extend life expectancies of
dogs with cancer.