Identification of telomerase in dog

Abstract

In recent years, the enzyme telomerase has been found to be very active in human cancer cells but not in normal cells in the body. This discovery is predictable, as telomerase is responsible for maintenance of the telomeres in a cell. It prevents the telomeres from diminishing during replication and ensures immortality to the cancerous cell. As the result, telomerase can be used as an identification test for malignant tissues. In humans, even though important, there are may other ways to determine if the tumor is malignant or benign. In animals, however, the alternative diagnostic methods are very expensive. Pet owners often decide against medical treatment and put the animal to sleep, even though in some cases the tumor itself is benign and not life threatening. The main goal of this project is to identify whether or not the telomerase plays the same role in dogs as it does in humans and whether an increase in telomerase activity is observed in dog cancers. The goal of this project is to propose an inexpensive and simple test for the presence of dog telomerase in tissues. This test will allow veterinarians to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors, making the diagnostic of the disease in dogs easier and less expensive.