title: Molecular portrait-based correlation between primary canine mammary tumor and its lymph node metastasis: possible prognostic-predictive models and/or stronghold for specific treatments?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the molecular phenotype of the primary mammary tumor and its related lymph node metastasis in the dog to develop prognostic-predictive models and targeted therapeutic options.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty mammary tumor samples and their lymph node metastases were selected and stained by immunohistochemistry with anti-estrogen receptor (ER), -progesterone receptor (PR), -human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (c-erbB-2), -cytokeratin 5/6 (CK 5/6), -cytokeratin 14 (CK14), -cytokeratin 19 (CK 19) and -protein 63 (p63) antibodies. Four phenotypes (luminal A, luminal B, c-erbB2 overexpressing and basal-like) were diagnosed in primary tumors and five (luminal A, luminal B, c-erbB-2 overexpressing, basal-like and normal-like) in the lymph node metastases. Phenotypic concordance was found in 13 of the 20 cases (65%), and seven cases (35%) showed discordance with different lymph node phenotypic profile from the primary tumor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The phenotype of the primary tumor assumes a predictive-therapeutic role only in concordant cases, meaning that both the primary tumor and its lymph node metastasis should be evaluated at the same time. A treatment plan based only on the primary tumor phenotype could lead to therapeutic failures if the phenotype of the lymph node metastasis differs from that of the primary tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolaradi Sopra 50, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna 40064, Italy.
authors.forename: Germana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beha
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asproni
authors.forename: Luisa Vera
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Muscatello
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Millanta
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sarli
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benazzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents