Sources: Randi King, rlking@1xbet online games login edu;
and Annelise Nguyen, 785-532-4429, tnugyen@vet.1xbet online games login edu
Pronouncer: Nguyen is Win
Photo available. Contact media@1xbet online games login edu or 785-532-6415.
Video available: http://www.1xbet online games login edu/media/audio/podcasts/gordon2.mov and http://www.kstate.edu/media/audio/podcasts/diagnosticslab.mov
Download information available at http://www.1xbet online games login edu/media/audio/podcastindex.html
News release prepared by: Kristin Hodges, 785-532-6415, khodges2@1xbet online games login edu

Monday, Jan. 26, 2009

K-STATE STUDENT RESEARCHES BREAST 1xbet online games login IN CATS AND DOGS

MANHATTAN -- Just like in humans, 1xbet online games login can occur in any part of the body of dogs and cats. That's why one Kansas State University student is researching breast 1xbet online games login that affects these common pets.

Randi King, junior in animal science and industry and pre-veterinary medicine, Rose Hill, is conducting animal breast 1xbet online games login cell research with Annelise Nguyen, assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology at K-State.

King is examining samples of breast cancer cells from cats and dogs, which were provided by K-State's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. 1xbet online games login is characterizing various biomarkers in the mammary tumors, which have shown to play a crucial role in human cancer, to eventually establish their differential patterns.

There are only a limited number of drugs currently available in 1xbet online games login treatment for dogs and cats, and by establishing differential patterns it will allow for an increase of treatments that have been approved for human drugs to extend to veterinary medicine, according to King.

Cancer accounts for about 50 percent of pet deaths each year, and King's research will add more information to the medical field, where little is known about cat and dog breast cancer, 1xbet online games login said.

&1xbet online games login ;I know it's not an area that is well researched right now,&1xbet online games login ; she said. &1xbet online games login ;It would be an awesome area to go into because it's kind of pioneering, because we've gone so in-depth in human cancer. It would be really cool to start seeing cancer therapy at veterinary clinics.&1xbet online games login ;

Nguyen said the mapping of the genome sequence of dogs and cats has been completed, which gives researchers an advantage when studying diseases. 1xbet online games login said King's research has more implications than the health of pets.

&1xbet online games login ;Many of the new cancer treatments and cures that we find for dogs and cats will help treat and cure humans as well,&1xbet online games login ; Nguyen said. &1xbet online games login ;We are comparing the similarity of a specific gene expression in a dog or cat with humans.&1xbet online games login ;

King's project started in fall 2008, and her research will continue as part of a two-year program through 1xbet online games login 's College of Veterinary Medicine.

King said 1xbet online games login wanted to become a veterinarian after her childhood pet, a cat, died from leukemia.

&1xbet online games login ;The veterinarians couldn't do anything for him,&1xbet online games login ; she said. &1xbet online games login ;I decided then to become a vet because I thought, 'I'm going to figure out what to do and be able to save some little girl's best friend someday.'&1xbet online games login ;

At first, King said 1xbet online games login was intimidated at the idea of doing cancer research.

&1xbet online games login ;I was a little nervous, but after I talked to Annelise, she has such a warm personality that she just put me at ease,&1xbet online games login ; King said. &1xbet online games login ;When she was explaining everything, I realized how cool the whole big picture of it was.&1xbet online games login ;

King came to K-State wanting to be a small-animal veterinarian, but 1xbet online games login has since worked with much larger animals through K-State's College of Agriculture.

1xbet online games login plans to apply to K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine and would like to own a clinic eventually, though 1xbet online games login said university research also is a possibility in her future.

King is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority; Order of Omega, the Greek honor society; Wildcats for Pet Adoption and Welfare, or PAW; and the Pre-Vet Club. 1xbet online games login is a 2006 graduate of Rose Hill High School and the daughter of Kenny and Glenda King, Rose Hill.