Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor Flk-1 in canine mammary tumours.
J Comp Pathol
; 130(2-3): 99-104, 2004.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15003465
ABSTRACT
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces endothelial cell proliferation, and the beginning of angiogenesis, by interacting with specific endothelial receptors termed VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) and VEGFR-2 (Flk-1). In this study, Flk-1 expression was evaluated immunohistochemically in 10 benign and 40 malignant canine mammary tumours. There was immunolabelling of endothelial cells located within the neoplastic proliferation and at the infiltrating periphery, and also of neoplastic cells. The number of positive endothelial and neoplastic cells, was higher in malignant than in benign tumours. Moreover, in the malignant tumours, expression of Flk-1 increased from well to less differentiated phenotypes (grade 1-3). The presence of VEGF receptor on neoplastic cells suggests that VEGF has an autocrine function in which neoplastic cells act as both VEGF producers and target cells. Thus, in malignant tumours, VEGF may contribute to neoplastic growth by inducing angiogenesis and by stimulating the proliferation of neoplastic cells.
Buscar no Google
Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Neoplasias Mamárias Animais
/
Receptor 2 de Fatores de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular
/
Doenças do Cão
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Comp Pathol
Ano de publicação:
2004
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália