title: Decrease of E-cadherin expression in canine cutaneous histiocytoma appears to be related to its spontaneous regression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Canine cutaneous histiocytoma (CCH) is an epidermotropic tumour of Langerhans cells, most frequent in young dogs, which undergoes spontaneous regression.
  
  
  METHODS
  E-cadherin immunoexpression was analysed in ninety-three CCH, categorized according to Cockerell and Slauson (1976) criteria into four histological groups, representing different stages of tumour regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All tumours expressed membranous E-cadherin both in keratinocytes, and in tumoural cells and no differences were noted among the histological groups analysed. However, the intensity of the E-cadherin immunolabeling decreased in the presence of lymphoid infiltration and varied significantly among the groups considered (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study strongly suggests a down-regulation of E-cadherin expression in CCH pathogenesis and progression. The loss of E-cadherin expression might represent an activation/ maturation process of the tumoural cells constituting a switch for CCH regression.
authors: Department of Veterinary Sciences, CECAV, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-911 Vila Real, Portugal.
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Pires
authors: Felisbina Luisa
authors: FL
authors: Queiroga
authors: Anabela
authors: A
authors: Alves
authors: Filipe
authors: F
authors: Silva
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins