Altered miRNA pattern in canine mammary tumors - pilot study

Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) represent a prevalent malignancy in female dogs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of gene expression and are implicated in various cancer types, including CMTs. This study aimed to investigate the altered miRNA expression patterns in CMTs and their potential role in tumorigenesis. We analyzed miRNA profiles in a cohort of CMT samples and matched normal tissues using a custom canine panel microarray slide (Agilent technology). The bioinformatics analysis overlapped the altered miRNA signature in CMT with human breast cancer miRNA (TCGA patient cohort). The biological significance of this altered miRNA signature was evaluated using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Our results revealed a distinctive miRNA expression signature associated with CMTs compared to normal mammary tissues, and when overlapped with human breast cancer miRNA data (TCGA cohort), we identified a common signature composed of one overexpressed transcript and eight downregulated transcripts. In conclusion, our study provides comprehensive insights into the altered miRNA expression patterns in CMTs, shedding light on their potential contribution to the pathogenesis of these tumors. Further investigation into the specific roles of these dysregulated miRNAs is warranted to elucidate their precise involvement in CMT progression and to explore their therapeutic implications.