In vitro analysis of mammosphere formation in canine mammary tumors

Abstract

Canine mammary tumors are considered an excellent animal model for studying breast cancer since they share several important features with their human counterparts. Cancer stem cells are known to express embryonic stem cell markers within the heterogeneous population of cancer cells. Mammosphere assay in clinical cases of the canine mammary tumor has not been exploited completely. We describe protocol and interpretation for mammosphere assay for assessing stem cell activity and self-renewal, which can identify prognostic indicators and possible targets for therapeutic intervention or development of effective anti-cancer therapies in both Veterinary and Human medicine. Mammosphere assay can be a diagnostic or prognostic tool and standard assay in veterinary medicine.