The cancer which survived: insights from the genome of an 11000 year-old cancer

Andrea Strakova; Elizabeth P Murchison

doi:10.1016/j.gde.2015.03.005

The cancer which survived: insights from the genome of an 11000 year-old cancer

Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2015 Feb:30:49-55. doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2015.03.005. Epub 2015 Apr 11.

Authors

Andrea Strakova¹, Elizabeth P Murchison²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
² Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK. Electronic address: epm27@cam.ac.uk.

PMID: 25867244
DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2015.03.005

Abstract

The canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) is a transmissible cancer that is spread between dogs by the allogeneic transfer of living cancer cells during coitus. CTVT affects dogs around the world and is the oldest and most divergent cancer lineage known in nature. CTVT first emerged as a cancer about 11000 years ago from the somatic cells of an individual dog, and has subsequently acquired adaptations for cell transmission between hosts and for survival as an allogeneic graft. Furthermore, it has achieved a genome configuration which is compatible with long-term survival. Here, we discuss and speculate on the evolutionary processes and adaptions which underlie the success of this remarkable lineage.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Dog Diseases / genetics*
Dog Diseases / transmission*
Dogs
Neoplasms / genetics
Neoplasms / veterinary*
Tumor Escape

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding