Cachexia, characterized by progressive muscle wasting, affects both humans and dogs with chronic diseases such as cancer. In recent research, molecular oncology found that low circulating levels of certain microRNAs (small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression) often indicate the presence of cachexia in older dogs.
For this study, researchers analyzed blood levels of numerous microRNAs in 25 senior dogs. Reduced levels of miR-15a, miR-15b, miR-16, and miR-140 are indicators of cancer-related cachexia, with miR-16 being the most powerful individual marker. Gender-specific analysis revealed that miR-140, a microRNA with anti-inflammatory properties, was significantly lower in female dogs with cancer (mainly mammary and genital tract tumors) compared to dogs without cancer, and even lower in dogs with cachexia in addition to cancer. These findings suggest that estrogen-related cancer and cachexia may represent two distinct pathological processes that converge to suppress miR-140 expression.
Our findings indicate that certain circulating microRNAs, especially miR-16 and miR-140, may provide important clues for detecting cancer-associated cachexia in elderly dogs. Because dogs closely share biological and environmental characteristics with humans, this study could help open the door to earlier diagnosis, better monitoring, and future treatment strategies for cancer-associated muscle atrophy in both veterinary and human medicine. ”
Ky-Shik Jeong, DVM, PhD, corresponding author, Daegu Harney University, South Korea
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Reference magazines:
Park, S.S. others. (2026). Circulating microRNA signatures of cachexia and cancer family dog As a comparative oncology model of human disease. molecular oncology. DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.70293. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1878-0261.70293
