Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a method for detecting hemangiosarcoma in canines. The method includes the steps of: (1) obtaining a quantity of blood from the subject canine; (2) separating the quantity of blood into a serum portion and a non-serum portion; (3) contacting the serum portion of the blood with a detector to detect presence of an amount of Thymidine Kinase (TK); and (4) detecting the level of TK in serum and determining whether TK is present in amounts of about 8 units/mL or greater.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The application claims the filing-date priority of Provisional Application No. 60/983,359, filed Oct. 29, 2007, the specification of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING GOVERNMENT RIGHTS 
     The Government may have certain rights in this invention. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The instant disclosure relates to method, apparatus and kit for detecting presence of cancer in certain mammals. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for detecting hemangiosarcoma in canines and felines. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Nearly half of all dogs over the age of ten die from cancer. Conventional data indicate that the sum total for canine and feline cancer-related claims in the year 2005 was just shy of 20,000. This incident rate of newly uncovered cancer is consistent with other data. 
     Cancers are malignant neoplasms (growth) that occur when cell-dividing brake mechanisms (the genes that keep growth in check) go awry. Causes of these gene malfunctions may be inherited or acquired. Some breeds of dog seem particularly predisposed to develop certain types of cancer. For example, studies have shown that the English Setter, Chihuahua, Miniature Poodle and Afghan Hound have a predisposition for invasive mammary gland cancers. Boxers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Chinese Shar-Pei and Boston Terriers have a predisposition to mast cell (deep skin cell) cancers. Bernese Mountain dogs are prone to malignant histocytosis, which is a cancer of the white blood cells. Unspayed female dogs (and those spayed late in life) are more susceptible to mammary gland cancers and un-neutered male dogs (especially those with retained testicle) are at risk for testicular cancer. Malignancies are generally diseases of older dogs. 
     Mixed breed dogs are not immune to the development of cancer; they can suffer from malignant skin tumors if they inherit a faulty brake gene from one parent. Acquired cancers arise when the cell mechanisms are disrupted by a virus (although rare in dogs), by irradiation (skin cancers on dogs with short coats and pale skin exposed to excessive sunlight), or by an accumulation of toxic chemicals, either from failure of a cell to dispose of its waste byproducts or from natural or manmade chemicals in the environment. Body type is also implicated in the development of some types of cancer. Large and giant dogs have a higher risk of the bone cancer osteosarcoma that is associated with stress on weight-bearing limbs and dogs with dark skin are susceptible to melanomas. 
     Statistical data show that the most common cancers in dogs are lymphoma (a cancer affecting the lymph node system), skin tumors and osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer). The data also suggest that cats similarly suffer from lymphoma and skin tumors. 
     Hemangiosarcoma (“HSA”) is a malignant and rapidly growing cancer. HSA is difficult to detect. HSA is a tumor derived from blood vessels, and thus the tumor is filled with blood. A frequent cause of death from HSA is the rupturing of the tumor, causing the patient to rapidly hemorrhage to death. HSA in humans is commonly associated with toxic exposure to thorium dioxide (thorotrast), vinyl chloride and arsenic. The causes of HSA in dogs are largely unknown. 
     HSA is somewhat common on dogs, and more so in certain breeds of dogs such as German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers. HSA also occurs in cats, though it is rare. Dogs with HSA rarely show clinical signs until the tumor has become very large and has metastasized. Typically, clinical signs are due to hypovolaemia after the tumor ruptures, causing severe bleeding. Owners of the affected dogs often discover that the dog has HSA only after the animal has collapsed. 
     The HSA tumor often appears on the spleen, right heart base or liver. HSA is the most common tumor of the heart and it occurs in the right atrium, where it can cause right-heart failure, arrhythmias, pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade. HSA of the spleen or liver is the most common tumor to cause hemorrhage in the abdomen. 
     The success of treatment to cure cancer lies in early detection of the disease. However, early detection of HSA is one of the most challenging aspects of the disease. This is primarily because HSA most commonly develops internally, where it is not easily noticed and examined. In many instances, malignant tumors arising in the organs of body will eventually cause symptoms directly related to the location of the tumor. A wait-and-see method to diagnose HSA is inappropriate since by the time the cancer is large enough to detect, it has already reached an advanced stage and is unlikely to respond favorably to treatment. 
     There are currently no commercially viable screening mechanisms for detecting HSA in dogs. Most dogs present with HSA as emergencies and major decisions about treatment must be made without a definitive diagnosis. A screening test that would allow the detection of HSA would be very valuable in the planning of treatment and earlier detection of the disease. Thus, there is a need for a method, apparatus and kit for early detection of HSA. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for detecting Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) in canines, the method comprising: obtaining a quantity of blood from the subject canine; separating the quantity of blood into a serum portion and a non-serum portion; contacting the serum portion of the blood with a detector to detect presence of an amount of Thymidine Kinase (TK); detecting the level of TK activity in serum and determining whether TK is present in amounts of about 8 units/liter or greater. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a system for detecting HSA in canines, comprising: a centrifuge for separating a serum portion of the subject canine blood from a non-serum portion; a detector for detecting presence of an amount of Thymidine Kinase (TK); and an indicator for quantifying a level of TK presence in an amount of about 8 units/liter or greater. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other embodiments of the disclosure will be discussed with reference to the following exemplary and non-limiting illustrations, in which like elements are numbered similarly, and where: 
         FIG. 1  shows the result of the HSA cancer study in Table 1; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  show data from the control samples; 
         FIG. 3  shows scatter plot depicting the TK activity values for 18 dogs with HSA (red) and 33 age-matched healthy control dogs (black); and 
         FIG. 4  shows mean (+/−SEM) TK activity values in 18 dogs with HSA and 33 age-matched healthy control dogs. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Thymidine Kinase (“TK”) is a salvage enzyme and TK is only present in anticipation of cell division. Accordingly, TK will only be set free to the circulation from cells undergoing divisions. The enzyme is not set free from cells undergoing normal division where the cells have a special mechanism to degrade the proteins no longer needed after the cell division. In normal subjects the amount of TK in serum or plasma is therefore very low. Tumor cells release the TK enzyme to the circulation, probably in connection with the disruption of dead or dying tumor cells. The TK level in serum therefore serves as a measure of malignant proliferation, indirectly as a measure of the aggressiveness of the tumor. 
     In one embodiment of the disclosure, serum TK is used as a potential tumor marker for detecting hemangiosarcoma in veterinary patients. In another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a identifying a threshold for detecting the HSA from the presence of TK isoenzymes. 
     Previous studies have demonstrated TK&#39;s potential utility as a marker for detecting lymphoma in dogs. However, despite overwhelming need and interest, no marker has been available for detecting HSA in dogs. The following sample studies were conducted to provide viability of the proposed method. 
     Eighteen serum samples from dogs presenting to an emergency clinic with hemoabdomen and subsequently demonstrated to have HSA of the liver or spleen by histopathology, were evaluated for TK activity. Serum samples previously stored at −80° C. were assayed; Sera from aged-matched clinically normal dogs comprised a control population (n=30). Comparisons between groups were made using 1- and 2-tailed unpaired T-tests as appropriate. 
     For each sample, approximately 600 μL serum was provided. Each sample was labeled with a database code for blind testing and patient identification. The control group included dogs with no history of illness. From each dog approximately 3 mL whole blood from a peripheral vein was extracted into a red-top tube. For each sample serum were separated from the cells within 60 minutes and the samples were then frozen immediately. 
     The samples were then defrosted and analyzed using the LIAISON® Thymidine Kinase Assay Procedure (Registered to DioSorin S.p.A of Italy). The analysis included reacting each sample with a substrate having 3′-derivative of thymidine in the presence of a phosphate donor and a buffer system. The phosphate donor was a nucleoside triphosphate suitable to transfer a phosphate group to a substrate such as adenosine triposphate (ATP) or cytidine triphosphate (CTP). The buffer system included 10-100 mM HEPES or Tris with pH ranging from 6.8-8.0, 1-30 mM DTE, 0.2-8 mM ATP and MgCl 2  at a concentration of at least two times the concentration of ATP. The substrate contained 3′-derivative of thymidine. A more detailed discussion of the assay can be found in Application No. 2006/0035295 A1 to Oehrvik et al., the specification of which is incorporated herein in entirety for background information. 
     The LIAISON® TK assay procedure included a two-step, competitive chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) for quantitative determination of TK in serum and EDTA plasma. The assay utilizes an initial enzymatic reaction in which TK in the sample converts AZT (3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine) to AZTMP (3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine mono phosphate). This is followed by a competitive immunoassay for the quantitative determination of AZTMP. The amount of AZT converted to AZTMP is a measure of the amount of TK present in the sample. 
     In the experiment, 50 μL of sample was incubated with 100 μL of Assay Buffer 1, 20 μL of Assay Buffer 2, and 20 μL of paramagnetic particles coated with anti-AZTMP polyclonal antibody. Rabbit anti-goat IgG, then anti-AZTMP goat polyclonal is coated to the solid phase. 
     The sample incubated for about 40 minutes and then 100 μL of tracer, an AZTMP analogue conjugated to an isoluminol derivative is added. During the first incubation, AZTMP binds to the solid phase. In the second incubation, the tracer conjugate competes for binding with the AZTMP in the solution. After a 20 minute incubation, the unbound material is removed with a wash cycle. The starter reagents are then added and a flash chemiluminescent reaction is initiated. The light signal is measured by a photomultiplier as relative light units (RLU) and is proportional to the concentration of TK present in calibrators, controls, or samples. 
     Statistical comparisons between groups were made using 1- and 2-tailed unpaired T-tests as appropriate. 
     The raw data from the described experiment are provided in Table 1 of  FIG. 1 . The results of the control study is tabulated at Tables 2A and 2B of  FIG. 2 . More specifically, the control group consisted of normal dogs of matching age and sex distribution to the study group and are tabulated in Table 2 and Table 3 and shown graphically in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The control group represents dogs unaffected with hemangiosarcoma or other apparent disease and provides the statistical basis for calculating the reference interval 
     TK activity in normal canine serum ranged from 0-5.6 U/L (mean 2.8 U/L). An upper limit of normal (mean+2SD) was established at 6.16 U/L. TK activity was significantly higher than control (P&lt;0.0001) in dogs with HSA (mean+/−SD=34.2+/−36.5 (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). In about 80% of dogs with HSA, serum activity was above the normal range. Using the available data, the described assay appears to have an approximately 80% sensitivity for detecting canine visceral HSA. 
       FIG. 3  shows scatter plot depicting the TK activity values for 18 dogs with HSA (red) and 33 age-matched healthy control dogs (black).  FIG. 4  shows mean (+/−SEM) TK activity values in 18 dogs with HSA and 33 age-matched healthy control dogs. 
     The experiment&#39;s results lead to the following conclusions: (1) TK is significantly increased in dogs with some types of cancer, specifically HSA; (2) TK may be useful in staging and monitoring disease in veterinary patients with HSA. 
     While the principles of the disclosure have been illustrated in relation to the exemplary embodiments shown herein, the principles of the disclosure are not limited thereto and include any modification, variation or permutation thereof.