title: Expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), E-cadherin and Ki-67 in metastatic and non-metastatic canine mammary carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to demonstrate the immunohistochemical expression of proteins that affect the metastatic potential of a tumour, including matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and E-cadherin. Another objective was to determine their correlation with the expression of the Ki-67 antigen in metastasizing and non-metastasizing mammary carcinomas in female dogs. The study was conducted on 32 canine mammary carcinomas (12 metastatic and 20 non-metastatic), classified as simple tubular and tubulopapillary carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression of MMP-2, E-cadherin and Ki-67 antigen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMP-2 was expressed in 85 % of the non-metastatic tumours and in all the metastatic tumours, while E-cadherin was expressed in 85 % of the non-metastatic tumours and in 66 % of the metastatic tumours. The Ki-67 antigen was expressed in 65 % of the non-metastatic tumours and in 91 % of the metastatic tumours. The mean Ki-67 expression was slightly higher in tumours that had metastasized (1.5 ± 0.90 vs 1.1 ± 0.94; p = 0.22). A similar relationship was found in terms of the intensity of the MMP-2 expression (2.9 ± 1.9 vs 2.7 ± 2.4; p = 0.50). A decrease in the expression of E-cadherin (2.8 ± 2.5) was found in metastatic tumours compared to the expression in non-metastatic tumours (3.2 ± 2.3). However, these differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.63).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We did not show significant differences in MMP-2, E-cadherin and Ki-67 expression between metastatic and non-metastatic tumours due to low number of cases studied, however further experiments are necessary to assess the role of these antigens in the process of canine mammary tumours metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Madej
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pula
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland ; Department of Physiotherapy, Wroclaw University School of Physical Education, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dziegiel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Rafal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciaputa
keywords: Dog; E-cadherin; Ki-67; Mammary carcinoma; Matrix metalloproteinase-2; Metastasis