Cox-2 levels in canine mammary tumors, including inflammatory mammary carcinoma: clinicopathological features and prognostic significance.
Cyclo-oxygenase (Cox-2) plays an important role in mammary carcinogenesis, nevertheless, its role in canine mammary tumors, and particularly in inflammatory mammary carcinoma (IMC), is unknown. Tumor Cox-2 levels were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay, in post-surgical tumor homogenates of 129 mammary tumors (62 dysplasias and benign tumors, 57 malignant non-IMC and 10 IMC) from 57 female dogs. The highest Cox-2 values were detected in the IMC group. In non-IMC malignant tumors, high values of Cox-2 were related to skin ulceration (p < 0.001) and tumor size (p < 0.001). The follow-up study revealed that high Cox-2 levels were related with recurrence (p = 0.002), metastases (p < 0.001), disease-free survival (p < 0.001) and overall survival (p < 0.001). This study demonstrates an association between intra-tumor Cox-2 levels and poor prognosis. The high levels found in IMC cases could indicate a special role of Cox-2 in the inflammatory phenotype and open the possibility of additional new therapeutic approaches in this special type of mammary cancer in humans and dogs.
Queiroga
Felisbina Luisa
FL
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-911, Vila Real, Portugal. fqueirog@utad.pt
Perez-Alenza
Maria Dolores
MD
Silvan
Gema
G
Peña
Laura
L
Lopes
Carlos
C
Illera
Juan Carlos
JC
D000818:Animals; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis
D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2