High COX‐2 expression is associated with increased angiogenesis,proliferation and tumoural inflammatory infiltrate in canine malignant mammary tumours: a multivariate survival study |
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| Authors: | M I Carvalho I Pires J Prada T P Raposo H Gregório L Lobo F L Queiroga |
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| Institution: | 1. CECAV, University of Trás‐os‐Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal;2. Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás‐os‐Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal;3. Center for the Study of Animal Sciences, CECA‐ICETA, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal;4. Centro Hospitalar Veterinário, Porto, Portugal;5. Hospital Veterinário do Porto, Travessa de Silva Porto, Porto, Portugal;6. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal;7. Center for Research and Technology of Agro‐Environment and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás‐os‐Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal |
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| Abstract: | COX‐2 expression affects mammary tumourigenesis by promoting angiogenesis and cell proliferation, encouraging metastatic spread and tumour‐associated inflammation. Samples of canine mammary tumours (n = 109) were submitted to immunohistochemistry to detect COX‐2, CD31, VEGF, Ki‐67, CD3 and MAC387 expression. Concurrent high expression of COX‐2/CD31, COX‐2/VEGF, COX‐2/Ki‐67, COX‐2/CD3 and COX‐2/MAC was associated with elevated grade of malignancy, presence of intravascular emboli and presence of lymph node metastasis. Tumours with high COX‐2 (P < 0.001) and tumours with concurrent expression of high COX‐2 and high CD31 (P = 0.008); high VEGF (P < 0.001); high Ki‐67 (P < 0.001); high CD3+ T‐lymphocytes (P = 0.002) and elevated MAC387 macrophages (P = 0.024) were associated with shorter overall survival (OS) time. Interestingly the groups with high COX‐2/CD31 and high COX‐2/VEGF retained their significance after multivariate analysis arising as independent predictors of OS. Present data highlight the importance of COX‐2 in canine mammary tumourigenesis. |
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| Keywords: | angiogenesis canine mammary tumours COX‐2 prognosis proliferation tumour inflammatory infiltrate |
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