Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in bitchs mammary tumors / Expressão do fator de crescimento endotelial vascular em tumores mamários de cadelas

ABSTRACT

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in canine female. Vascular endothelial growth factor is a major inducer of angiogenesis and has marked expression in mammary tumoral cells. The role of vascular endothelial growth factor that assumed to be most potent angiogenesis factor is ambiguous in breast cancer. Studies suggest that VEGF expression is higher in malignant than in benign tumors, and its correlation with invasion and growth of canine mammary tumors and unfavorable outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the immunohistochemical expression of VEGF in malignant and benign mammary tumors in bitches. Materials, Methods & Results: Fifty five malignant tumors were analyzed and sixteen benign tumors of dogs using a polyclonal antibody to determine the expression of VEGF by a semi-quantitative method (based on the sum of the ratio and intensity of color of the tumor cells) and a quantitative (performed by means of a computerized image capture and analysis). The marker VEGF positivity was determined by the presence of at least one tumor cell with brown cytoplasmic staining clear and unambiguous. The VEGF expression was compared between each histopathological group by Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and PHStat2 statistical software, version 2.0. We used the chi-squared test (2 ), to detect differences in the expression scor

RESUMO

O Fator de Crescimento Endotelial Vascular (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor - VEGF) é o principal indutor da angiogênese tumoral, processo complexo, dinâmico e essencial para o crescimento de tumores que estimula a proliferação celular endotelial, migração e formação do tubo capilar, sendo um dos fatores mais estudados na oncologia humana. [...]