Evaluation of cell proliferation and apoptosis markers as predictive factors for electrochemotherapy in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of cats / Marcadores de proliferação celular e de apoptose como fatores preditivos à eletroquimioterapia em carcinoma de células escamosas cutâneo de gatos

ABSTRACT: Determining cell proliferation rates and tumor apoptosis through immunohistochemistry allows the evaluation of the biological behavior of the tumor, optimizing the patient's clinical course. This study aimed to analyze the immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67, COX-2 and caspase-3 and correlate them with the type of response to ECT in feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), thus determining the predictive potential of these variables. For this, 13 samples of feline cutaneous SCC were evaluated before ECT, and statistical analyses of the correlation intensity between the variables were performed using the Spearman correlation coefficient, with a significance level of 95%. The results indicate a significant negative correlation between histopathological grade and response to ECT (ρ=-0.6; p=0.03); there was no significant correlation between Ki-67, COX-2 and caspase-3 immunoexpression with the response to ECT (ρ=-0.18; p=0.54/ρ=-0.23; p=0.44/ρ=-0.12; p=0.69, respectively). Therefore, the study shows that the histopathological grade, tumor size and staging, degree of cellular pleomorphism and degree of inflammatory infiltrate can be considered negative prognostic factors for cutaneous SCC and negative predictors for response to ECT. However, the markers Ki-67, COX-2 and caspase-3 are not considered predictive factors for the type of response to ECT. In addition, no relationship between these immunoexpressions and greater tumor aggressiveness was observed. The SCCs evaluated in this study showed significant COX-2 labeling, indicating a potential therapeutic target. ECT has been shown to be safe and effective for local control of feline cutaneous SCC but with reduced effectiveness in larger and invasive lesions.

RESUMO: A determinação das taxas de proliferação celular e apoptose tumoral por meio da imuno-histoquímica, permite avaliar o comportamento biológico tumoral, com otimização da evolução clínica do paciente. Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar as expressões imuno-histoquímicas de Ki-67, COX-2 e caspase-3 e correlacioná-las com o tipo de resposta à EQT em carcinoma de células escamosas (CEC) cutâneo de felinos; assim, determinar o potencial preditivo destas variáveis. Para tanto, foram avaliadas 13 amostras de CEC cutâneo de felinos antes da EQT e as análises estatísticas quanto à intensidade de correlação entre as variáveis foram realizadas utilizando o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman, com nível de significância de 95%. Os resultados indicam que houve correlação negativa significativa entre o grau histopatológico e a resposta à EQT (ρ=-0,6; p=0,03); não houve correlação significativa entre as imunoexpressões de Ki-67, COX-2 e caspase-3 com a resposta à EQT (ρ=-0,18; p=0,54/ρ=-0,23; p=0,44/ρ=-0,12; p=0,69, respectivamente). Portanto, este estudo evidenciou que as variáveis grau histopatológico, tamanho e estadiamento tumorais, grau de pleomorfismo celular e grau do infiltrado inflamatório foram consideradas fatores prognósticos negativos para o CEC cutâneo e preditivos negativos para a resposta à EQT. Entretanto, os marcadores Ki-67, COX-2 e caspase-3 não foram considerados fatores preditivos para o tipo de resposta à EQT, assim como não foi observada relação entre essas imunoexpressões com maior agressividade tumoral. Os CECs avaliados neste estudo apresentaram importante marcação para COX-2, indicando um potencial alvo terapêutico. A EQT mostrou-se segura e efetiva para o controle local dos CECs cutâneos dos felinos, porém com efetividade reduzida em lesões maiores e invasivas.

Lipid rich carcinoma in canine mammary gland with metastasis in the abdominal cavity

Lipid-rich carcinoma of the mammary gland is a rare variant of cancer and extremely uncommon in dogs. This case report describes the clinical and histopathological aspects of lipid-rich carcinoma in a female dog. A four-year-old spaeyd German Shepherd dog with enlarged volume adhered to the caudal and inguinal abdominal mammary region was examined. The impossibility of surgical ressection led to euthanasia during the surgical procedure. At necropsy, analysis of the abdominal cavity revealed the presence of an irregularly shaped mass, whitish with red areas, in the intrapelvic region. Also, metastases in axillary and mediastinal lymph nodes and right lung were observed. Histopathological analysis of the tumor inthe mammary glands and intrapelvic mass showed malignant neoplastic proliferation of epithelial cells. The cells had adistinct shape and boundary, a well-defined cytoplasm, and the presence of intracytoplasmic macro and micro vacuoles, which sometimes pushed the nuclei to the periphery. The lymph nodes had lost the histological architecture due tometastasis. Marked and diffuse immunostaining of tumor cells in the cytoplasm by pancytokeratin, GATA 3 and 35BH11 confirmed the epithelial origin of the tumor. This very aggressive and uncommon neoplasm should be considered as apossible metastasi in the differential diagnosis of tumors of the abdominal cavity.

Lipid rich carcinoma in canine mammary gland with metastasis in the abdominal cavity

Lipid-rich carcinoma of the mammary gland is a rare variant of cancer and extremely uncommon in dogs. This case report describes the clinical and histopathological aspects of lipid-rich carcinoma in a female dog. A four-year-old spaeyd German Shepherd dog with enlarged volume adhered to the caudal and inguinal abdominal mammary region was examined. The impossibility of surgical ressection led to euthanasia during the surgical procedure. At necropsy, analysis of the abdominal cavity revealed the presence of an irregularly shaped mass, whitish with red areas, in the intrapelvic region. Also, metastases in axillary and mediastinal lymph nodes and right lung were observed. Histopathological analysis of the tumor inthe mammary glands and intrapelvic mass showed malignant neoplastic proliferation of epithelial cells. The cells had adistinct shape and boundary, a well-defined cytoplasm, and the presence of intracytoplasmic macro and micro vacuoles, which sometimes pushed the nuclei to the periphery. The lymph nodes had lost the histological architecture due tometastasis. Marked and diffuse immunostaining of tumor cells in the cytoplasm by pancytokeratin, GATA 3 and 35BH11 confirmed the epithelial origin of the tumor. This very aggressive and uncommon neoplasm should be considered as apossible metastasi in the differential diagnosis of tumors of the abdominal cavity.(AU)