Cox-2 Expression in Canine Mammary Carcinomas: Correlation with Angiogenesis and Overall Survival

Mammary tumors are among the most common neoplastic processes in female dogs. Prostaglandin E2, the catalytic product of Cox-2, may promote tumor development and angiogenesis. It has been investigated in several human cancers and also correlated with the evolution of the disease. However, the clinic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary pathology 2009-11, Vol.46 (6), p.1275-1280
Main Authors: Lavalle, G.E, Bertagnolli, A.C, Tavares, W.L.F, Cassali, G.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
blood vessels
carcinoma
Carcinoma - enzymology
Carcinoma - mortality
Carcinoma - pathology
Cyclooxygenase 2 - genetics
Cyclooxygenase 2 - metabolism
disease course
Dog Diseases - enzymology
Dog Diseases - mortality
Dog Diseases - pathology
Dogs
Female
gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic - physiology
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - physiology
immunohistochemistry
mammary neoplasms (animal)
Mammary Neoplasms, Animal - enzymology
Mammary Neoplasms, Animal - mortality
Mammary Neoplasms, Animal - pathology
microvessel density
mortality
Neovascularization, Pathologic - enzymology
Neovascularization, Pathologic - veterinary
prostaglandin synthase
protein synthesis
tumor angiogenesis
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Summary:Mammary tumors are among the most common neoplastic processes in female dogs. Prostaglandin E2, the catalytic product of Cox-2, may promote tumor development and angiogenesis. It has been investigated in several human cancers and also correlated with the evolution of the disease. However, the clinical implications of tumor pathology require more investigation in veterinary medicine. Angiogenesis is essential for the growth and metastasis of major solid tumors and has been correlated with prognosis in human and canine breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate Cox-2 expression and microvessel density in canine mammary carcinomas and to correlate them with overall survival of the animal. Cox-2 and angiogenesis were assessed by immunohistochemistry in 46 mammary carcinomas (19 ductal and 27 metaplastic) and in healthy mammary glands. To assess tumor angiogenesis, microvessel density (MVD) was determined by CD31 staining. Immunostaining revealed that 46/46 (100%) of the tumors were positive for Cox-2 and CD31, and there was no statistical difference among tumor types. Cox-2 protein expression correlated positively with CD31 staining (r = 0.3742, P = .0104) but did not correlate significantly with tumor type. Longer overall survival was observed in metaplastic carcinomas (P = .028), in tumors with low microvessel density (P = .0002) and with low Cox-2 score (P = .01). Our results demonstrate that increased microvessel density and increased Cox-2 expression were linearly related in the canine mammary tumors studied and were also related to worse prognosis and shorter overall survival. This suggests that Cox-2 inhibitors could be an alternative for the treatment and control of advanced neoplastic mammary disease in female dogs.
ISSN:0300-9858
1544-2217
DOI:10.1354/vp.08-VP-0226-C-FL