Hyperlipasemia in 6 dogs with pancreatic or hepatic neoplasia: evidence for tumor lipase production.
Amarked increase in serum pancreatic lipase (PL) activity with minimal concurrent increase in serum alpha-amylase activity was observed in 6 dogs with pancreatic or hepatic neoplasia. Serum PL activity ranged from 5410 U/L to 42,900 U/L, 11 to 93 times the upper reference limit for our laboratory. Neoplasms included pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n=3), endocrine carcinoma (n=2), and hepatic carcinoma of unknown origin (n=1). Tumor tissue and normal canine pancreatic tissue were stained histochemically with diastase periodic acid-Schiff to demonstrate zymogen granule content, and immunohistochemically with human monoclonal antibody for PL. Normal canine pancreatic tissue stained positive for both zymogen granule content and PL. Five of the 6 tumors stained positive for zymogen granule content, and 2 of the 6 tumors stained positive for PL. Together, the histochemical and immunohistochemical staining patterns suggested tumor PL production in 5 of the 6 dogs. Marked, unexplained hyperlipasemia may be a noninvasive indicator and biochemical marker for neoplasia of the pancreas and liver in dogs.
Quigley
Kelley A.
KA
Departments of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada. kelley_quigley@usask.ca
Jackson
Marion L.
ML
Haines
Deborah M.
DM