Transcriptomic profiling of a canine malignant eyelid melanoma.

Despite its aggressive behavior and translational potential, malignant eyelid melanoma in dogs remains under-researched in veterinary oncology. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular landscape of a malignant eyelid melanoma in a 4-year-old female dog of an undefined breed. Differential gene expression analysis revealed 1,437 significantly altered genes. Notably, the upregulated genes were enriched in immune-related pathways, such as chemokine signaling (CCL3, CCL4, CCL8, CCL23, CCL24, CXCL8, and CXCL10), whereas the downregulated genes were associated with cytoskeletal integrity processes and hormonal signaling. MicroRNA analysis highlighted miR-134-5p and miR-146a-5p as potential regulators of oncogenic pathways, underscoring their diagnostic and therapeutic importance. In addition, comparative analyses revealed conserved gene signatures in human basal cell carcinoma of the eyelids, emphasizing the importance of canine models in translational oncology. This comprehensive molecular characterization provides new insights into the pathogenesis of canine eyelid melanoma and identifies key biomarkers and pathways that may be relevant for future therapeutic interventions in veterinary and comparative oncology.