Age at cancer diagnosis by breed, weight, sex, and cancer type in a cohort of more than 3,000 dogs: Determining the optimal age to initiate cancer screening in canine patients

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280795
• Publication Date: 2023-02-01T18:37:38Z
• Authors: Jill M. Rafalko; Kristina M. Kruglyak; Angela L. McClear...; Vidit Goyal; Ashley Phelps-Dunn; Lilian K. Wong; Chelsea D. Warren; Gina Brandstetter; Michelle C. Rosentel; Lauren DiMarzio; Lisa M. McLennan; Allison L. O’Kell; Todd A. Cohen; Daniel S. Grosu; Jason Chibuk; Dana W. Y. Tsui; Ilya Chorny; Andi Flory
• Keywords: Purebred; Cancer screening

The goal of cancer screening is to detect disease at an early stage when treatment may be more effective. Cancer in dogs has relied upon annual physical examinations and routine laboratory tests, which are largely inadequate for detecting preclinical disease. With the introduction non-invasive liquid biopsy detection methods, discussion shifting from how screen cancer. To address this question, we analyzed data 3,452 cancer-diagnosed determine age certain breeds weights typically diagnosed with In our study population, median diagnosis was 8.8 years, males younger ages than females, neutered significantly later intact dogs. Overall, weight inversely correlated diagnosis, purebred were mixed-breed For represented by ≥10 dogs, a breed-based calculated. A weight-based linear regression model developed predict ≤10 Our findings, combined findings previous studies established long duration phase development suggest that it might reasonable consider starting 2 years prior similar breed or weight. This logic would support general recommendation start all 7, as 4 lower order increase likelihood treatment.