title: COX-2 and c-kit expression in canine gliomas.
abstract: Gliomas are among the most common primary neural tumours of dogs. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and c-kit overexpression are associated with increased aggressiveness of gliomas and decreased survival in human beings. COX-2 is the inducible form of cyclooxygenase, which catalyzes prostaglandin formation and may increase tumour proliferation and angiogenesis. C-kit is a tyrosine kinase receptor involved in normal cell physiology; c-kit is upregulated in some canine tumours. In this retrospective study, 20 canine gliomas were identified: 11 (55%) oligodendrogliomas, including 1 anaplastic variant; 1 (5%) oligoastrocytoma; and 8 (40%) astrocytomas, of which 2 were glioblastoma multiforme. None of the gliomas expressed COX-2. None of the gliomas were immunoreactive for c-kit, although all three high-grade tumours had intramural vascular expression. Consequently, COX-2 inhibitors would likely be ineffective against canine gliomas. C-kit inhibitors may have an anti-angiogenic effect in high-grade gliomas, but would likely be ineffective in low- and medium-grade tumours.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-4542, USA. jjankovs@utk.edu
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jankovsky
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Newkirk
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ilha
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit