Interleukin-6 and thrombopoietin concentrations in dogs with carcinoma with and without thrombocytosis.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma-associated thrombocytosis involves tumor production of mediators such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and thrombopoietin (TPO) that increase thrombopoiesis and may play a role in tumor evasion and metastasis. Carcinoma-associated thrombocytosis is described in people, but has not been described in dogs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the concentrations of IL-6 and TPO in dogs diagnosed with carcinoma with or without thrombocytosis. We hypothesized that IL-6 and TPO concentrations would be higher in dogs with carcinoma compared to healthy dogs, and that IL-6 and TPO concentrations would be higher in dogs with carcinoma and thrombocytosis when compared to dogs with carcinoma and normal platelet counts. ANIMALS: One-hundred sixteen dogs: 63 with carcinoma and 53 healthy control dogs. METHODS: Complete blood count was performed in all dogs, and they were stratified for sub-group analysis based on the presence or absence of thrombocytosis (platelet count > 500 103/µL). Serum TPO and IL-6 concentrations were measured by ELISA. Results of selected numeric variables were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum tests for pairwise comparisons. A value of P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Twelve of the dogs with carcinoma (12/63, 19.0%) and none of the healthy control dogs (0%) had thrombocytosis. Thrombopoietin concentrations (median [range]) were significantly higher in dogs with carcinoma when compared to controls (87.42 pg/mL [0 to >600] vs 15.99 pg/mL [0 to >600], P < .001). Interleukin-6 concentrations (median [range]) were not different between dogs with carcinoma and healthy control dogs (9.70 pg/mL [0-181.53] vs 3.03 pg/mL [0-280.77], P = .15). In dogs with carcinoma, the TPO and IL-6 concentrations were not different between dogs with thrombocytosis and dogs with normal platelet count. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Thrombopoietin concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with carcinoma, regardless of platelet count. Thrombopoietin is likely to be 1 of multiple factors that can impact platelet number, production, and consumption in dogs with carcinoma.

Assessment of urinary 15-F2 -isoprostanes in dogs with urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder and other lower urinary tract diseases.

BACKGROUND: The 15-F2 -isoprostanes are by-products of oxidative stress and are increased in the urine of people with lower urinary tract diseases (LUTD), especially urinary neoplasia. Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the most common urinary neoplasm in dogs. Earlier detection of UC by noninvasive means could lead to improved outcomes. Urinary 15-F2 -isoprostanes potentially could provide this means, but have not been evaluated in dogs with UC. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure urinary 15-F2 -isoprostanes in dogs with UC and dogs with other LUTD. ANIMALS: One hundred seventeen dogs: 46 dogs with UC, 30 dogs with LUTD, and 25 control dogs. METHODS: Any dog that was presented with dysuria was eligible for inclusion. Diagnosis of UC was confirmed histologically. Urinalysis was performed in each case, and 15-F2 -isoprostanes quantified by gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (GC-NICI-MS) and normalized to urinary creatinine concentration. RESULTS: Dogs with urinary diseases (UC + LUTD) had higher median urinary 15-F2 -isoprostanes when compared to control dogs (5.92 ng/mg [range, 0.46-31.03] vs 3.73 [range, 1.8-7.98]; P = .02). Urinary 15-F2 -isoprostanes were similar in dogs with UC (5.33 ng/mg [range, 0.46-31.03]) compared to dogs with LUTD (6.29 ng/mg [range, 0.54-18.93]; P = .47) and control dogs (P = .06). Dogs with UC had higher qualitative measures of proteinuria (P = .004), hematuria (P = .01), and epithelial cells on urinalysis (P = .002) compared to the other groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Urinary F2 -isoprostanes are not useful for the detection of UC in dogs. Future research could evaluate urinary 15-F2 -isoprostanes as a marker of inflammation in disease progression and prognosis.