Simpson, R MarkBastian, Boris CMichael, Helen TWebster, Joshua DPrasad, Manju LConway, Catherine MPrieto, Victor MGary, Joy MGoldschmidt, Michael HEsplin, D GlenSmedley, Rebecca CPiris, AdrianoMeuten, Donald JKiupel, MattiLee, Chyi-Chia RWard, Jerrold MDwyer, Jennifer EDavis, Barbara JAnver, Miriam RMolinolo, Alfredo AHoover, Shelley BRodriguez-Canales, JaimeHewitt, Stephen M2015-01-052013Simpson, R. M., B. C. Bastian, H. T. Michael, J. D. Webster, M. L. Prasad, C. M. Conway, V. M. Prieto, et al. 2013. “Sporadic naturally occurring melanoma in dogs as a preclinical model for human melanoma.” Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research 27 (1): 37-47. doi:10.1111/pcmr.12185. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pcmr.12185.1755-1471http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:13581194Melanoma represents a significant malignancy in humans and dogs. Different from genetically engineered models, sporadic canine melanocytic neoplasms share several characteristics with human disease that could make dogs a more relevant preclinical model. Canine melanomas rarely arise in sun-exposed sites. Most occur in the oral cavity, with a subset having intra-epithelial malignant melanocytes mimicking the in situ component of human mucosal melanoma. The spectrum of canine melanocytic neoplasia includes benign lesions with some analogy to nevi, as well as invasive primary melanoma, and widespread metastasis. Growing evidence of distinct subtypes in humans, differing in somatic and predisposing germ-line genetic alterations, cell of origin, epidemiology, relationship to ultraviolet radiation and progression from benign to malignant tumors, may also exist in dogs. Canine and human mucosal melanomas appear to harbor BRAF, NRAS, and c-kit mutations uncommonly, compared with human cutaneous melanomas, although both species share AKT and MAPK signaling activation. We conclude that there is significant overlap in the clinical and histopathological features of canine and human mucosal melanomas. This represents opportunity to explore canine oral cavity melanoma as a preclinical model.en-USmelanomaanimal modelcomparative studyclinical trial designimage analysisdigital telepathologysignal transductionJournal Article2015-01-0510.1111/pcmr.12185