by Leonard Konis

Created on: January 26, 2008   Last Updated: June 21, 2010

A type of cancer occurring in common pigmented (dark) skin dogs is canine melanoma. The cancer arises from the pigment producing cells called melanocytes or melanoblasts. Melanocytes cells found in the bottom layer of the skin's epidermis and in the middle layer of the eye. 

Canine melanoma detected in mouth, toes, and behind the eye likely to spread, compared to tumors detected on the skin, generally benign (growth not cancerous and does not spread to other parts of the body).  Most common breeds of dogs diagnosed with canine melanoma: Standard and Miniature Schnauzers, Gordon Setters, Scottish terriers, and Doberman Pinschers, likely hereditary linked. 

Symptoms of Canine Melanoma: Trouble swallowing, skin lesions noticeable odd colored and shaped, visible tumors, drooling, loss of appetite, weight loss, and bad breath. A veterinarian confirms diagnosis canine melanoma by physical examination, chest X-ray, blood work and biopsy. Treatment options include: Surgery (remove of the tumor or as much as possible), radiation (reduce tumor size), Chemotherapy (medication administered) and / or combination treatment options.

Unfortunately the prognosis is poor but worse when canine oral melanoma and cancer located in the toes and behind the eyes.  Also, after surgery frequently prognosis is deadly: Melanoma tends to spread to the lungs, eventually cause of lung failure. Thirty to forty percent of malignant canine cancers (spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body) are oral malignant melanoma; common in older, smaller, male dogs, besides Labrador retrievers, cocker spaniels and other large breeds.

Treating canine oral melanoma includes surgery, and radiation. Unfortunately, surgery does not always remove entire cancerous cells, requiring additional treatment including chemotherapy. "The median survival time for dogs with oral melanoma is 8 months after diagnosis."

Jedd Wolchok, MD, Ph.D., at Memorial Sloan - Kettering Cancer Center in New York City led by collaboration with Phillip Bergman, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM (Oncology) at the Animal Medical Center in New York; Ongoing research to discover a vaccine to treat oral melanoma.

Dr. Bergman contacted Merial (World's leading animal health company 6) extend the research to refine a vaccine. "Merial Limited is a joint venture between Merck & Co. and sanofi-aventis." In 2006, Merial reported sales nearly $2.2 billion. In March 2007, U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the conditional

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