Comparative Pathobiology of Canine and Human Prostate Cancer: State of the Art and Future Directions

Simple Summary Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the main types of cancer that affects the male population worldwide. In recent decades, there has been a significant evolution in the methods of diagnosis and treatment, mainly due to the development of new research in the field of molecular biology, allowing for a better understanding of how this cancer develops and progresses from a genetic point of view. In addition to humans, the canine is the only mammal that develops PC spontaneously. However, in dogs, PC has a distinct form, with high lethality rates. This work of scientific characterization of cancer in humans and dogs approaches how differences and similarities already all explain how PC develops and progresses in dogs, with a central tenet of molecular biology, that is, the transport between DNA, RNA and proteins. The understanding of these mechanisms makes it possible to identify new methods of the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, not only in men, but also in dogs. First described in 1817, prostate cancer is considered a complex neoplastic entity, and one of the main causes of death in men in the western world. In dogs, prostatic carcinoma (PC) exhibits undifferentiated morphology with different phenotypes, is hormonally independent of aggressive character, and has high rates of metastasis to different organs. Although in humans, the risk factors for tumor development are known, in dogs, this scenario is still unclear, especially regarding castration. Therefore, with the advent of molecular biology, studies were and are carried out with the aim of identifying the main molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of canine PC, aiming to identify potential biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted treatment. However, there are extensive gaps to be filled, especially when considering the dog as experimental model for the study of this neoplasm in humans. Thus, due to the complexity of the subject, the objective of this review is to present the main pathobiological aspects of canine PC from a comparative point of view to the same neoplasm in the human species, addressing the historical context and current understanding in the scientific field.

Automated summary

This study compares prostate cancer in humans and dogs, exploring the differences, similarities, and underlying mechanisms from the perspective of molecular and pathological biology. The research has significant implications for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.