title: P-cadherin expression in feline mammary tissues.
abstract: The search for molecular markers in the feline mammary gland, namely, the adhesion molecules belonging to the cadherin family, is useful in the understanding of the development of mammary carcinomas in felines and humans. To study P-cadherin expression in the feline mammary gland, 61 samples of normal (n = 4), hyperplastic (n = 12), and neoplastic (n = 45) feline mammary tissues were examined. In both normal and hyperplastic mammary tissues as well as in benign tumours, P-cadherin immunolabelling was restricted to myoepithelial cells. In malignant tumours, however, there was an aberrant epithelial P-cadherin immunoexpression in 64.1% (n = 25) of cases, with a membranous and/or cytoplasmic pattern of distribution. A statistically significant relationship was seen between epithelial P-cadherin expression and malignant mammary lesions (P = 0.0001). In malignant mammary tumours, there was likewise a statistically significant relationship between aberrant P-cadherin immunoexpression and histological grade (P = 0.0132). Aberrant epithelial P-cadherin expression seems to be related to malignancy in the feline mammary gland. To confirm the results of this investigation, further studies with larger samples and follow-up studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama (EUVG), Quinta de S. Jorge, Estrada da Conraria, Castelo Viegas, 3040-714 Coimbra, Portugal ; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira No. 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Catarina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Figueira
authors.forename: Ana Sofia
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Teodósio
authors.forename: Júlio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carvalheira
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Matos
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gärtner