Haematological parameters, plasma iron concentration, and bodyweight were monitored in Melanoma-bearing Libechov Minipigs (MeLiM) from 5 to 18 weeks old. Animals with melanoma progression (P group) and spontaneous regression (SR group) were compared. The P group showed the lowest median values of red blood cell counts (RBC), haematocrit (HCT), haemoglobin concentration (HGB), and bodyweight, whereas the control white (tumour-free) pigs (C group) revealed the highest mean values of these parameters. The mean values of pigs with SR fell between the P and C groups. In addition, a stable concentration of plasma iron was found in the C group, while iron deficiency that increases with age was observed in the MeLiM groups. These results indicate that MeLiM are affected by cancer-related microcytic hypochromic anaemia. The lowest values of HGB, RBC, and HCT, together with the highest number of platelets (PLT) in the P group correspond to melanoma progression. Higher values of these parameters and lower PLT in the MeLiM pigs with SR reflected health improvement due to the destruction of melanoma cells during spontaneous regression. Monitoring of these haematological parameters can help distinguish MeLiM piglets with progression and spontaneous regression of melanoma in the early stages of postnatal development. The findings of this study correspond to findings in human patients in which cancer-related anaemia, thrombocytosis, and iron deficiency are often diagnosed.

Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics v v i Laboratory of Applied Proteome Analyses and Laboratory of Tumour Biology Rumburska 89 CZ 277 21 Libechov Czech Republic

Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics v v i Laboratory of Applied Proteome Analyses and Laboratory of Tumour Biology Rumburska 89 CZ 277 21 Libechov Czech Republic; Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources Department of Veterinary Sciences Kamycka 129 CZ 165 00 Prague Czech Republic

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Faculty of Economics and Management Department of Statistics Prague Czech Republic

Mendel University in Brno Department of Viticulture and Enology Valticka 337 CZ 691 44 Lednice Czech Republic; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Zemedelska 1 CZ 613 00 Brno Czech Republic

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Melanoma-Bearing Libechov Minipig (MeLiM): The Unique Swine Model of Hereditary Metastatic Melanoma