Hi techdeb!
Welcome to Google Answers! As you know, Google researchers cannot
take the place of a medical professional, but I'll do my best to
answer your questions as thoroughly as possible.
First, let's address the types of cells we're dealing with --
MAST CELLS
"Mast cells are found throughout the skin, spleen, and
gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines) tract of the dog and cat.
Mast cells are connective tissue cells that contain histamine and
heparin. Release of histamine and other substances results in local
swelling, inflammation, and irritation. A mast cell tumor is a tumor
of these specialized cells."
http://www.vetmedcenter.com/consumer/display.asp?fn=P-MR-M-On_5-mastcelltumorso1XX.xml&dt=K
http://www.vetmedcenter.com/consumer/display.asp?dt=5M&fn=08040805.htm
TRANSITIONAL CELLS
"Transitional epithelium is a type of tissue found in the kidneys,
ureters, bladder, and urethra. Transitional cell carcinoma arises from
this cell type. Transitional cell carcinoma can develop from the
prostate or vagina as well. Transitional cell carcinoma may spread
(metastasize) to the lymph nodes and lungs."
http://www.vetmedcenter.com/consumer/display.asp?fn=P-MR-M-On_5-TransCellCarcFK1XX.xml&dt=K
http://www.vetmedcenter.com/consumer/display.asp?dt=5M&fn=11161117.htm
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/boeing/small_animal_medicine/cancer.htm
As you can see by these descriptions, each type of cell (mast or
transitional) has it's own specific type of cancer. In other words,
Mast Cell tumors affect only Mast Cells. When these particular cells
become "cancerous" they form a tumor of cancerous mast cells that can
be either partially or fully excised depending on how large it is and
how far it has spread.
CAN SPREAD OF MAST CELL CANCER "CAUSE" TRANSITIONAL CELL CANCER?
None of my reading leads to this conclusion --
"Metastasis is the spread of cancer from one part of the body to
another by way of the lymph system, blood stream or direct extension.
Cells in the metastatic (secondary) tumor are the SAME TYPE as those
in the original (primary) tumor. "
http://www.phoenix5.org/glossary/metastasis.html
In Dogs transitional cell cancer can be caused by "obesity, exposure
to environmental carcinogens, chronic exposure to flea control
products, and cyclophosphamide administration are all reported risk
factors"
http://www.vetmedcenter.com/consumer/display.asp?dt=5M&fn=11161117.htm
" One known predisposing cause of transitional cell carcinoma is the
previous administration of cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapeutic agent
also used in treatment of some immune mediated disorders. In one
report of dogs which developed cyclophosphamide-induced transitional
cell carcinoma the duration of therapy ranged from 6 to 64 weeks."
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/boeing/small_animal_medicine/cancer.htm
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO TYPES?
It's difficult to judge the relationship between types of cancers.
"Cancer" is a term used to describe a group of illnesses all having
certain common characteristics, primarily the propensity for lack of
regulated cell growth, which results in serious health problems.
http://www.cancer.ie/information/whatis/
The Cancer is often named for its primary tumor site. For example,
cancer originating in the breast but spreading to the bones is still
called "breast cancer." The way to judge the relationship between
cancers is to either find a common cause or to find correlations
between the presence of one and the presence of the other.
As you will read on the vetmed center links provided above, it is not
known what causes Mast Cell Tumors and the causes of Transitional cell
carcinoma do not indicate that Mast Cell cancer predisposes it. My
research has not come up with any articles that link the two cancers.
I hope that this has answered your question and provided you with
enough links to do further follow-up.
Again, welcome to Google Answers and best of luck with your pug dog!
-K~
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