Quantification of VEGF-C expression in canine mammary tumours.
BACKGROUND
Tumours release angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF), which induces growth of a capillary network around the tumour. Elevated concentrations of VEGF have been reported in human mammary gland tumours.


METHODS
To evaluate the expression of VEGF-C mRNA in canine mammary tissue, 38 mammary gland tumours (including 15 benign and 23 malignant mammary tumours), and 4 normal mammary glands were investigated by real-time reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
VEGF-C expression in the malignant mammary tumours was much higher than in the benign mammary tumours or normal mammary tissue (P < 0.001). The expression of VEGF-C in tumours with lymph node metastasis was much higher than in those without (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The level of expression of VEGF-C did not correlate with tumour size or the patient's age, but was significantly higher in malignant mammary tumours and related to lymph node metastasis, making it a candidate marker for predicting metastasis of canine mammary cancer.
Qiu
C
C
College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, PR China. csama@sina.com
Lin
D D
DD
Wang
H H
HH
Qiao
C H
CH
Wang
J
J
Zhang
T
T
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor