title: Growth Factors and COX2 Expression in Canine Perivascular Wall Tumors.
abstract: Canine perivascular wall tumors (PWTs) are a group of subcutaneous soft tissue sarcomas developing from vascular mural cells. Mural cells are involved in angiogenesis through a complex crosstalk with endothelial cells mediated by several growth factors and their receptors. The evaluation of their expression may have relevance since they may represent a therapeutic target in the control of canine PWTs. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and receptors VEGFR-I/II, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and receptor Flg, platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB) and receptor PDGFRβ, transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and receptors TGFβR-I/II, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) was evaluated on frozen sections of 40 PWTs by immunohistochemistry and semiquantitatively scored to identify their potential role in PWT development. Statistical analysis was performed to analyze possible correlations between Ki67 labeling index and the expression of each molecule. Proteins of the VEGF-, PDGFB-, and bFGF-mediated pathways were highly expressed in 27 (67.5%), 30 (75%), and 19 (47.5%) of 40 PWTs, respectively. Proteins of the TGFβ1- and COX2-mediated pathways were highly expressed in 4 (10%) and 14 (35%) of 40 cases. Statistical analysis identified an association between VEGF and VEGFR-I/II (P = .015 and .003, respectively), bFGF and Flg (P = .038), bFGF and PDGFRβ (P = .003), and between TGFβ1 and COX2 (P = .006). These findings were consistent with the mechanisms that have been reported to play a role in angiogenesis and in tumor development. No association with Ki67 labeling index was found. VEGF-, PDGFB-, and bFGF-mediated pathways seem to have a key role in PWT development and growth. Blockade of tyrosine kinase receptors after surgery could represent a promising therapy with the aim to reduce the PWT relapse rate and prolong the time to relapse.
authors: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Università di Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Milano, Italy giancarlo.avallone@gmail.com.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Avallone
authors: Dipartimento di scienze veterinarie e sanità pubblica (DIVET), Università degli studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Stefanello
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Laboratory of Medical Statistics, Biometry and Epidemiology GA Maccacaro, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Boracchi
authors: Dipartimento di scienze veterinarie e sanità pubblica (DIVET), Università degli studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Ferrari
authors: Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Agripolis-Legnaro (PD), Italy.
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Gelain
authors: Dipartimento di scienze veterinarie e sanità pubblica (DIVET), Università degli studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Turin
authors: Dipartimento di scienze veterinarie e sanità pubblica (DIVET), Università degli studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Tresoldi
authors: Dipartimento di scienze veterinarie e sanità pubblica (DIVET), Università degli studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Roccabianca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D006393:Hemangiopericytoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000662:veterinary; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1
keywords: basic fibroblast growth factor; canine; dogs; hemangiopericytoma; immunohistochemistry; perivascular wall tumors; platelet-derived growth factor; soft tissue sarcoma; tyrosine kinase receptor; vascular endothelial growth factor