Assessment of Biological Aging and Cancer Risk Using Liquid Biopsies

Presentation Description / Summary: Aging is a critical risk factor for the development of many life-threatening diseases, including cancer. Many aging-related diseases are diagnosed in advanced stages, limiting treatment options and worsening prognosis. Early detection is essential to improving companion animal outcomes. Non-invasive diagnostic blood tests, called liquid biopsies, are increasingly being investigated in veterinary medicine to address this unmet need. Liquid biopsies hold promise in the early detection setting, as well as monitoring response to therapy and detecting disease presence after treatment. Disease-related analytes utilized in liquid biopsies include circulating tumor cells (for cancer), cell-free nucleic acids, and extracellular vesicles including exosomes. Exosomes are membrane-bound microvesicles released by cells, and they are actively loaded with cargo associated with cellular biology and disease state. We previously developed a serum exosomal gene signature in canine osteosarcoma capable of detecting minimal residual disease and predicting prognosis after therapy. We are expanding upon that work by developing an exosomal gene signature for early detection and risk assessment of osteosarcoma in large- and giant-breed dogs, as well as one associated with prognosis in pediatric human osteosarcoma. Finally, we are investigating exosomal gene signatures associated with biological aging in dogs. By applying machine learning, we can assign a risk category for an individual dog’s potential risk of developing age-related diseases, including cancer. These projects align with the overall goal of our research program: to develop diagnostic tests to inform disease management and reduce the impact of chronic aging-related diseases through early detection and strategic prevention.

Learner Outcomes: 1. Aging is a risk factor for the development of many life-threatening diseases, including cancer. 2. Liquid biopsies can be used for early disease detection, as well as monitoring response to therapy, and detection of residual disease after treatment. Serum exosomes (membrane-bound microvesicles) are released by cells and contain cargo that is associated with disease state. 3. Our lab is investigating exosomal gene signatures in aging-related diseases, including cancer, with the goal of early detection and strategic prevention.