biostudies-literatureCapodanno YUniversity of Edinburgh | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of EdinburghMorris Animal Foundation11581https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7360586biostudies-literatureUnknown10(1)Insulinomas (INS) are the most common human and canine functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. The long-term prognosis for malignant INS is poor, because micrometastases are frequently missed during surgery. As human and canine malignant INS share clinical and histopathological features, dogs have been proposed as models for INS research. Using RNA-sequencing, we conducted a pilot study to better understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of canine INS. Normal canine pancreas and lymph node control tissues were compared with primary INS and INS-metastatic lymph nodes, revealing more than 3,000 genes differentially expressed in normal pancreas compared to primary INS. Only 164 genes were differentially expressed between primary INS and INS-metastatic lymph nodes. Hierarchical cluScientific reportsTranscriptomic analysis by RNA sequencing characterises malignant progression of canine insulinoma from normal tissue to metastatic disease.PMC7360586D14CA-503G338Q5Elders RBuishand FOPang LYCapodanno YKirpensteijn JArgyle DJMol JAfalseTranscriptomic analysis by RNA sequencing characterises malignant progression of canine insulinoma from normal tissue to metastatic disease.Insulinomas (INS) are the most common human and canine functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. The long-term prognosis for malignant INS is poor, because micrometastases are frequently missed during surgery. As human and canine malignant INS share clinical and histopathological features, dogs have been proposed as models for INS research. Using RNA-sequencing, we conducted a pilot study to better understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of canine INS. Normal canine pancreas and lymph node control tissues were compared with primary INS and INS-metastatic lymph nodes, revealing more than 3,000 genes differentially expressed in normal pancreas compared to primary INS. Only 164 genes were differentially expressed between primary INS and INS-metastatic lymph nodes. Hierarchical clu2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Jul2025-04-06T19:39:05.748Z2025-04-06T19:39:05.748ZS-EPMC73605863266556210.1038/s41598-020-68507-z