Molecular-oriented therapy of lung tumors in animals with BRAF mutations – possibilities and limitations of the method

Abstract

Lung cancer (LC) is malignant epithelial tumors that differ in origin, histological structure, clinical course, and treatment results. Lung cancer ranks first in terms of male morbidity in Russia, and in terms of mortality in the world. In animals, LC is diagnosed much less frequently, but with an increase in the number of animals kept in cities, the incidence of LC increases, since companion animals are exposed to the same risk factors as humans. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 43 animals (28 cats and 15 dogs) admitted to the VEGA veterinary clinics for treatment in the period from 2020 to 2023. The criterion for the inclusion of animals in the study was a tumor process in the thoracic cavity and lungs, diagnosed by instrumental and laboratory methods. High-dose intravenous chemotherapy, which is used in humans, is ineffective in the treatment of LC in animals, therefore, it is necessary to search, develop and introduce into clinical practice targeted drugs that will be effective in animals. Since the most widely used group of targeted drugs in human medicine are low-molecular kinase inhibitors that act on the corresponding molecular target in the tumor, the development of molecular genetic methods available for practical use by veterinary oncologists for the study of tumor cells in animals is relevant in veterinary medicine. The choice of treatment methods and prognosis depend on the stage of the disease, therefore, the issue of introducing biomarkers of various types and stages of oncological processes into veterinary practice deserves research. Also, to improve the effectiveness of treatment, it is recommended to conduct research and develop a lung cancer staging scale for cats.