VEGF expression in dog mastocytoma.
The biologic behavior of mastocytomas is highly variable; some tumors have a benign behavior, whereas others exhibit aggressive growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major regulator of angiogenesis and a potential autocrine growth factor for neoplastic cells in various malignancies.


METHODS
In the present study, we have investigated expression of VEGF in cutaneous tumor from a dog and combined immunohistochemical expression of VEGF with mast cell tryptase, CD117 and vimentin.


RESULTS
Tumor cells were positive for VEGF, and inflammatory cells were negative. VEGF expression was found in tumor cells as a heterogeneous positive reaction, with cytoplasmic pattern and moderate to strong in intensity. Arrangement of tumor cells was in clusters, in deepest part, close to the proliferation front. The dog died 5 month from the diagnosis, and our observation suggest that VEGF secretion by tumor cells correlates with unfavorable prognosis.
Universitatea de Medicină Si Farmacie V. Babes Timişoara, Facultatea de Medicină, Catedra de Histologie şi Citologie.
O
O
Mederle
Narcisa
N
Mederle
Elena Viorica
EV
Bocan
Raluca
R
Ceauşu
M
M
Raica
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D034801:Mastocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D011379:Prognosis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D053802:Tryptases / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014746:Vimentin; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D053802:Tryptases