Introduction
Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in humans is associated with environmental exposures and variants in glutathione S‐transferase (GST) genes. Scottish Terriers have a high breed risk for TCC, but the relationship between genetic and environmental risk in dogs is not fully understood.
Hypotheses
Scottish Terriers have a higher frequency of GST‐theta variants compared to lower risk breeds. Dogs with TCC of any breed have a higher frequency of GST‐theta variants along with higher environmental exposures, compared to controls.
Animals
One hundred and five Scottish Terriers and 68 controls from lower risk breeds; 69 dogs of various breeds with TCC, and 72 breed‐ and sex‐matched unaffected geriatric dogs.
Methods
In this prospective case‐control study, dogs were genotyped for 3 canine GST‐theta variants:
GSTT1
I2+28 G>A, a
GSTT1
3′UTR haplotype, and
GSTT5
Asp129_Gln130del. Owners of dogs with TCC and unaffected geriatric controls completed a household environmental questionnaire.
Results
The
GSTT1
3′UTR haplotype and
GSTT5
Asp129_Gln130del variants were significantly
underrepresented
in Scottish Terriers (minor allele frequency [MAF] = 0.000 for both), compared to dogs from lower risk breeds (MAF = 0.108 and 0.100;
P
≤ .0002). Dogs with TCC did not differ from unaffected geriatric controls across the 3 investigated loci. Transitional cell carcinoma was associated with household insecticide use (odds ratio [OR] = 4.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.44‐12.33,
P
= .02), and was negatively associated with proximity to a farm (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.25‐0.99,
P
= .04).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
Low‐activity GST‐theta loci are unlikely contributors to TCC risk in dogs. Increased risk is associated with household insecticide use, and possibly with less rural households.