title: Immunosuppressive cytokines in the regional lymph node of a dog suffering from oral malignant melanoma.
abstract: A 10-year-old male cross-breed dog was referred for investigation of oral malignant melanoma. Fine-needle aspirates were taken from the draining submandibular lymph node. The presence of metastatic melanoma cells was confirmed by cytological examination and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers for the melanoma-associated antigens: tyrosinase and mart-1/melan A. Cytokine expression in the lymph node was evaluated by multiplex RT-PCR, which demonstrated the presence of mRNA for IL-10 and TGF-beta1. However, IL-2, IL-4 and IFNgamma mRNA could not be detected, suggesting a lack of immune activation. Thoracic radiographs showed a lesion within the caudal lung fields suggestive of pulmonary metastasis. The dog developed signs of dyspnoea and collapse and was euthanased four days later. This case illustrates that molecular techniques can be used to aid clinical staging of canine oral malignant melanoma, and suggests that immunosuppressive cytokines could be involved in the pathogenesis of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London NW1 OTU.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Catchpole
authors.affiliation: Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London NW1 OTU.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kellett-Gregory
authors.affiliation: Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dobson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000662:veterinary; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary*; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000276:immunology; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000276:immunology; D011859:Radiography; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase