Dear Scottie Friends and Family

Dear Scottie Friends and Family:

It is with great excitement that I am writing you to tell you about a new research study on bladder cancer (TCC) in Scottish Terriers.

Attached is a letter from Dr Elaine Ostrander and her team at the National Human Genome Research Institute at NIH that is intended to be publicized to all Scottie clubs, Internet Lists, and print media in order to formally announce the study to Scottie owners and to request samples for this major project.

A pre-proposal has been submitted to the AKC CHF for funding of this 2 year project. I am certain the AKC CHF will be in contact with the STCA in the future with details of this study.

There are few researchers today with as much respect and accomplishment in the field of human and canine cancer genetics as Dr Ostrander. She is Chief of the Cancer Genetics Branch at the National Human Genome Research Institute of NIH and also heads the Section of Comparative Genetics. Her lab at NIH works in both human and canine genetics. She has published over 150 papers and articles, and is currently leading a team of postdocs and students on projects aimed at identifying variants associated with canine diseases, finding genes regulating canine morphology, and understanding the population dynamics of modern domestic breeds. Her current focus is on finding disease genes associated with complex disorders such as cancer, Addison's disease, and hip dysplasia.

Dr Ostrander will be collaborating with Dr Deborah Knapp at Purdue University on this project. Dr Knapp is already well known and respected by Scottie owners everywhere for her many years of ground breaking work on Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC), including the first ever epidemiological study of the disease in Scotties. Indeed, Dr Knapp has dedicated most of the past 15 years to the study of TCC, including characterization of the disease and clinical investigation of new, more effective therapies.

At this time, Drs. Ostrander and Knapp are requesting blood samples from dogs with TCC, as well as unaffected dogs over the age of 5, who will serve as a population based control group. As stated in the attached letter, Dr. Ostrander's team is ready to accept samples immediately. Please feel free to distribute this letter intended to owners of both affected and unaffected dogs. I would like to request that the letter be published on the STCA web site. In addition, I plan to distribute the letter to several Internet lists and other print media including "Great Scots Magazine", and to Nancy Hurren as the STCA Regional Club Rep.

Dr Ostrander has also requested that the STCA consider allowing a team from her lab to be present at the National Rotating Specialty in Canton OH April 29-30 to collect samples at that time. The Ostrander Lab has all the blood draw supplies necessary as well as lab members trained in proper animal restraint techniques. With adequate publicity and lead time, there could be a good response from Scottie owners in Canton. Dr. Ostrander's team would be happy to do a presentation at the Specialty and answer questions about the study if that is desired.

Drs. Ostrander and Knapp will be assisted by a top-notch research team, and we will work together to find the answers to this devastating disease in our Scotties. I am very excited about this work, and proud to be a part of it. The key to our success, however, will be getting the samples to the researchers in a timely fashion with the information they need. That is where your participation is critical. With your help, there is light at the end of this dark tunnel!

Marcia Dawson, DVM

Cancer Genetics Branch National Human Genome Research Institute National Institutes of Health 50 South Drive, Bldg. 50, Room 534 Bethesda, Maryland 20892-8000 Phone: (301) 451-9390

Fax: (301) 594-0023

Bladder Cancer in the Scottish Terrier

The Ostrander Laboratory at the National Human Genome Research Institute at NIH in collaboration with the Purdue Comparative Oncology Program at Purdue University and the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the University of Minnesota is conducting research on the genetic susceptibility to transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder in the Scottish Terrier. This is a devastating disease with genetic underpinnings and our ultimate goal is to identify the genetic variants responsible for susceptibility to this disease. Scottish Terriers are 20 times more likely to be diagnosed with TCC than other dogs and treatment of advanced TCC has often been met with disappointing results. Too many Scottish Terriers die each year as a result of this terrible disease.

Dr. Elaine Ostrander and her collaborators are searching for the genetic causes of TCC. They will be looking at all the dog's chromosomes to find regions of the genome that affected dogs share that occur with a decreased frequency in a population based sample of the breed. Statistical tools are used to evaluate the data between the two groups of dogs and to compare the data from Scotties to that being collected from other breeds. Indeed, the Ostrander/Knapp groups will not only be collecting and testing DNA from Scottish Terriers, but also West Highland White Terriers and Beagles. Our collaborator Dr. Liz McNiel is a key player in helping inform potential study participants about the disease. Of key interest will be the determination as to whether related breeds, such as the Westie and Scottie, have inherited the disease from a common ancient ancestor.

The Ostrander Lab is soliciting blood samples from two groups of dogs. We seek samples from dogs with a histopathological diagnosis (biopsy confirmed) of TCC. In addition, we seek DNA from dogs over the age of five who currently have no known cancers.

If your dog meets one of these criteria, please contact Dana Mosher, Ostrander Lab Samples Manager, for a sampling kit by phone (301-451-9390) or email ([email protected]). Each kit contains a one page consent form, a pair of vials for collecting 5-10 cc of blood at your veterinarian's office, and instructions for handling the blood. The collection kit comes in a small cardboard mailer tube that protects the blood vials. A return address label is included so that the forms and blood can be sent back to the lab conveniently. Blood can be mailed at room temperature without cold packs.

All genetic and contact information collected for each dog will remain confidential. Specifically, your participation in the study, your dog's pedigree, health information you provide, and any data we get from your dog's DNA sample will not be disclosed to any breeders, Club personnel, the AKC, or the AKC Canine Health Foundation.

The sample you provide will be instrumental in helping to identify the genomic mutations associated with TCC. Every sample is precious and provides researchers with new and unique genetic information. Finding the locus (the part of the DNA that is abnormal) is the first step in what we expect will ultimately lead to a genetic test for TCC. Breeders could use the test to make informed decisions resulting in a reduction of the disease in the population. In addition, determining the genetic cause of the disease is a necessary first step in developing strategies to prevent the cancer and develop therapies for affected dogs.

Thank you in advance for your time and effort. Our work would not be possible without the participation of responsive owners and club members like you. Please contact Dana Mosher by phone or email with any questions or concerns you may have.