30 Mar Early Histio Cancer Screening Test Presentation

Those who have read my ongoing updates on the direction of the Histiocytic Sarcoma research undertaken by Dr Hedan and the team in France may be interested in a recent presentation he gave. It was in preparation for a special blood sampling clinic to be undertaken at the forthcoming American Speciality and gave some detail of the progress in developing an early detection test for HS. The test is being referred to as a ‘liquid biopsy’ as it uses a blood sample rather than a ‘solid’ piece of tumour.

As I have reported  before an early detection test would be a great step forward as it would not only enable more accurate diagnosis of HS but the earlier it can be detected the more chance of both existing treatments becoming more effective but new ones could be tested and developed. Currently by the time symptoms are noticed dogs are on an all too short countdown and their condition is too far developed so treatments can do little more, at best, than cause just a slight delay in the inevitable conclusion. The ultimate aim of this leg of the research is to give a reliable but crucially really early warning that HS is present, months and months before any symptoms would be noticed.

It is clear from the presentation that there is still a way to go but, as I have said at every point in the fight against this cruel disease our breed is afflicted with, every little step forward has to be welcomed and supported. Maybe not celebrated until it becomes meaningful in the day to day world, but still embraced as rare positive experience and small reason for some hope after decades of unavoidable submission to the disease.

One basic point to make for those who may be new to the French team’s research and about to watch the video. One standard criteria they use is that Bernese reaching 10 years of age without developing ‘Histio’ are taken as clear dogs who are free from the disease for the purposes of the research which has largely revolved around searching for differences in the DNA of affected and unaffected dogs. The older dogs get without the disease the clearer they are considered to be.

With thanks to Pat Long in the USA the ‘Liquid Biopsy’ presentation can be viewed here

Steve Green

BMD BHC