TABLE 1.
Diagnostic molecular markers for canine melanocytic tumours
| Marker(s) | Samples a ‐tumour location b | Methods c | Application utility | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melan‐A | T‐CM and OM | IHC | Confirm melanocytic origin | 34, 46 |
| T‐OM | ICC | Confirm melanocytic origin | 16 | |
| PNL2 | T‐CM, OM | IHC | Confirm melanocytic origin | 34, 46 |
| TRP‐1 and TRP‐2 | T‐CM, OM | IHC | Confirm melanocytic origin | 34 |
| SOX‐10 | T‐OM | IHC | Differentiate from soft tissue sarcomas (90% specificity) | 46 |
| TYR, CD34 and CALD1 | T‐OM (spindloid amelanotic) | RT‐qPCR | Differentiate from soft tissue sarcomas | 46 |
| MITF | T‐CM | IF | Confirm melanocytic origin | 4 |
| IHC | 89.8% sensitivity but only 30% specificity when used to differentiate from soft tissue sarcomas | 34 | ||
| Metabolite profile d | P‐OM | GC–MS | Distinguish dogs with melanomas from healthy control dogs | 13 |
a
Samples: T, tissue; P, plasma.
b
Tumour location: CM, cutaneous melanoma; OM, oral melanoma.
c
Methods: IHC, immunohistochemistry; ICC, immunocytochemistry; IF, immunofluorescence; RT‐qPCR, quantitative reverse transcription PCR; GC–MS, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.
d
Metabolite profile: Citric acid, lactic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, octadecenoic acid and glycerol.