Hypoxia-associated markers in the prognosis of oral canine melanoma.

Canine oral malignant melanoma (COMM) is the most common neoplasm in the oral cavity characterized by local invasiveness and high metastatic potential. Hypoxia represents a crucial feature of the solid tumor microenvironment promoting cancer progression and drug resistance. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and its downstream effectors, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), glucose transporter isoform 1 (GLUT1), C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), and carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), are the main regulators of the adaptive response to low oxygen availability. The prognostic value of these markers was evaluated in 36 COMMs using immunohistochemistry. In addition, the effects of cobalt chloride-mediated hypoxia were evaluated in 1 primary COMM cell line. HIF-1α expression was observed in the nucleus, and this localization correlated with the presence or enhanced expression of HIF-1α-regulated genes at the protein level. Multivariate analysis revealed that in dogs given chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-4 (CSPG4) DNA vaccine, COMMs expressing HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and CXCR4 were associated with shorter disease-free intervals (DFI) compared with tumors that were negative for these markers (P = .03), suggesting hypoxia can influence immunotherapy response. Western blotting showed that, under chemically induced hypoxia, COMM cells accumulate HIF-1α and smaller amounts of CAIX. HIF-1α induction and stabilization triggered by hypoxia was corroborated by immunofluorescence, showing its nuclear translocation. These findings reinforce the role of an hypoxic microenvironment in tumor progression and patient outcome in COMM, as previously established in several human and canine cancers. In addition, hypoxic markers may represent promising prognostic markers, highlighting opportunities for their use in therapeutic strategies for COMMs.

A chimeric human/dog-DNA vaccine against CSPG4 induces immunity with therapeutic potential in comparative preclinical models of osteosarcoma.

The high mortality rate of osteosarcoma (OSA) patients highlights the requirement of alternative strategies. The young age of patients, as well as the rarity and aggressiveness of the disease, limits opportunities for the robust testing of novel therapies, suggesting the need for valuable preclinical systems. Having previously shown the overexpression of the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG)4 in OSA, herein the functional consequences of its downmodulation in human OSA cells were evaluated in vitro, with a significant impairment of cell proliferation, migration, and osteosphere generation. The potential of a chimeric human/dog (HuDo)-CSPG4 DNA vaccine was explored in translational comparative OSA models, including human xenograft mouse models and canine patients affected by spontaneous OSA. The adoptive transfer of HuDo-CSPG4 vaccine-induced CD8+ T cells and sera in immunodeficient human OSA-bearing mice delayed tumor growth and metastasis development. HuDo-CSPG4 vaccination resulted safe and effective in inducing anti-CSPG4 immunity in OSA-affected dogs, which displayed prolonged survival as compared to controls. Finally, HuDo-CSPG4 was also able to induce a cytotoxic response in a human surrogate setting in vitro. On the basis of these results and the high predictive value of spontaneous OSA in dogs, this study paves the way for a possible translation of this approach to humans.

Bridging clinic and wildlife care with AI-powered pan-species computational pathology.

Cancers occur across species. Understanding what is consistent and varies across species can provide new insights into cancer initiation and evolution, with significant implications for animal welfare and wildlife conservation. We build a pan-species cancer digital pathology atlas (panspecies.ai) and conduct a pan-species study of computational comparative pathology using a supervised convolutional neural network algorithm trained on human samples. The artificial intelligence algorithm achieves high accuracy in measuring immune response through single-cell classification for two transmissible cancers (canine transmissible venereal tumour, 0.94; Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease, 0.88). In 18 other vertebrate species (mammalia = 11, reptilia = 4, aves = 2, and amphibia = 1), accuracy (range 0.57-0.94) is influenced by cell morphological similarity preserved across different taxonomic groups, tumour sites, and variations in the immune compartment. Furthermore, a spatial immune score based on artificial intelligence and spatial statistics is associated with prognosis in canine melanoma and prostate tumours. A metric, named morphospace overlap, is developed to guide veterinary pathologists towards rational deployment of this technology on new samples. This study provides the foundation and guidelines for transferring artificial intelligence technologies to veterinary pathology based on understanding of morphological conservation, which could vastly accelerate developments in veterinary medicine and comparative oncology.

Ex vivo evaluation of a technique for equine jejunocecal anastomosis using radiofrequency thermofusion and a Cushing oversew.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a technique for a side-to-side jejunocecal anastomosis in horses using radiofrequency thermofusion (TF) of the intestines supported by a Cushing oversew and to compare this anastomosis to handsewn and stapled techniques. STUDY DESIGN: Ex vivo study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Intestinal tracts from 24 slaughtered horses. METHODS: A radiofrequency device was used to perform a jejunocecal anastomosis (Group RFA). The construction time and bursting pressure of this construct were compared with those of a hand-sewn double layer (Group HS) and stapled anastomoses (Group ST) without oversew of the staple line. Histology was also performed for the TF anastomoses to evaluate the extent of the thermal damage. RESULTS: The median (range) construction time (min) for the TF (15.8 [14.4-16.8]) was not significantly different from that for the HS (25.5 [24.2-26.3]) and ST (10.8 [9.7-12.5]) groups (p = .07). The construction time for ST was shorter than that for HS group (p < .001). The average (standard deviation) bursting pressure (mmHg) for HS (153.1 +/- 17.5) was higher than that for RFA (76 +/- 15) and ST groups (48 +/- 13; p < .001). The bursting pressure of the RFA was higher than that of the ST anastomoses (p = .001). The thermal damage caused by the device was within the suture oversew in the deeper layers, whereas it extended a few mm beyond the suture line in the serosa. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency assisted anastomoses provide similar construction times to current techniques and have a higher bursting pressure than ST anastomoses. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Radiofrequency-assisted anastomoses with a suture oversew demonstrated comparable bursting pressures to ST anastomoses. The use of the radiofrequency device on the intestine is extra label and causes serosal tissue damage, which may increase the risk of adhesions.

Predicting outcome in dogs with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a novel immune landscape signature.

Canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (cDLBCL) is characterized by high mortality and clinical heterogeneity. Although chemo-immunotherapy improves outcome, treatment response remains mainly unpredictable. To identify a set of immune-related genes aberrantly regulated and impacting the prognosis, we explored the immune landscape of cDLBCL by NanoString. The immune gene expression profile of 48 fully clinically characterized cDLBCLs treated with chemo-immunotherapy was analyzed with the NanoString nCounter Canine IO Panel using RNA extracted from tumor tissue paraffin blocks. A Cox proportional-hazards model was used to design a prognostic gene signature. The Cox model identified a 6-gene signature (IL2RB, BCL6, TXK, C2, CDKN2B, ITK) strongly associated with lymphoma-specific survival, from which a risk score was calculated. Dogs were assigned to high-risk or low-risk groups according to the median score. Thirty-nine genes were differentially expressed between the 2 groups. Gene set analysis highlighted an upregulation of genes involved in complement activation, cytotoxicity, and antigen processing in low-risk dogs compared with high-risk dogs, whereas genes associated with cell cycle were downregulated in dogs with a lower risk. In line with these results, cell type profiling suggested the abundance of natural killer and CD8+ cells in low-risk dogs compared with high-risk dogs. Furthermore, the prognostic power of the risk score was validated in an independent cohort of cDLBCL. In conclusion, the 6-gene-derived risk score represents a robust biomarker in predicting the prognosis in cDLBCL. Moreover, our results suggest that enhanced tumor antigen recognition and cytotoxic activity are crucial in achieving a more effective response to chemo-immunotherapy.

Sentinel lymph node mapping with computed tomography lymphography for mast cell tumours and a comparison between regional and sentinel lymph node histological status: Sixty-two cases.

It is known that the regional lymph node (RLN) may not correspond to the sentinel lymph node (SLN) (the first lymph node draining the tumour), and many diagnostic techniques have recently been aimed at its detection. Although lymphoscintigraphy is the gold standard in both human and veterinary medicine for SLN mapping, it is relatively unavailable in veterinary medicine due to costs and difficult management of the radiotracer. This prospective study evaluated, as a first aim, the feasibility and sensitivity of the computed tomography lymphography (CTL) in detecting the SLN in 62 mast cell tumours (MCTs). The second aim was to evaluate the accuracy of the CTL in identifying the most representative lymph node of the patient's lymphatic status; the histological status of the SNL was compared with that of the RLN, to see in how many cases the patient's stage would have changed according to the RLN. When the RLN turned out to be also the SLN it was decided to excise, as a control LN, the one localised in the neighbourhood of the MCT (neighbouring lymph node; NLN). The detection rate was 90%, with failure of SLN identification in six cases. In 18 (32%) of 56 MCTs with a diagnostic CTL, the SLN did not correspond to the RLN. Forty-five MCTs were surgically removed, together with their corresponding SLN and RLN/NLN. Since the clinical stage of the patient would have changed in only 7% of cases, CTL is a reliable method of detecting the SLN and, for staging purposes, there is no need to remove other LNs.

Development of Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Canine PD-L1 and PD-1 and Their Clinical Relevance in Canine Apocrine Gland Anal Sac Adenocarcinoma.

Canine apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma (AGASACA) is an aggressive canine tumor originating from the anal sac glands. Surgical resection, with or without adjuvant chemotherapy, represents the standard of care for this tumor, but the outcome is generally poor, particularly for tumors diagnosed at an advanced stage. For this reason, novel treatment options are warranted, and a few recent reports have suggested the activation of the immune checkpoint axis in canine AGASACA. In our study, we developed canine-specific monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1 and PD-L1. A total of 41 AGASACAs with complete clinical and follow-up information were then analyzed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of the two checkpoint molecules (PD-L1 and PD-1) and the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (CD3 and CD20), which were evaluated within the tumor bulk (intratumor) and in the surrounding stroma (peritumor). Seventeen AGASACAs (42%) expressed PD-L1 in a range between 5% and 95%. The intratumor lymphocytes were predominantly CD3+ T-cells and were positively correlated with the number of PD-1+ intratumor lymphocytes (ρ = 0.36; p = 0.02). The peritumor lymphocytes were a mixture of CD3+ and CD20+ cells with variable PD-1 expression (range 0-50%). PD-L1 expression negatively affected survival only in the subgroup of dogs treated with surgery alone (n = 14; 576 vs. 235 days). The presence of a heterogeneous lymphocytic infiltrate and the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 molecules support the relevance of the immune microenvironment in canine AGASACAs and the potential value of immune checkpoints as promising therapeutic targets.

Investigating a Prognostic Factor for Canine Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Analysis of Different Histological Grading Systems and the Role of PIVKA-II.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in dogs is uncommon and often associated with a good prognosis, although some cases prove to be aggressive. In human oncology HCC is often very aggressive and diagnostic methods and prognostic factors are widely used to predict its biological behaviour. These include the expression of PIVKA-II. METHODS: in order to identify a prognostic factor for canine HCC, we applied different methods of histological grading and investigated PIVKA-II expression in 22 HCC of dogs treated surgically and followed clinically for at least 2 years. RESULTS: Nineteen patients analysed have passed the observation period without tumour recurrence, while 3 died following the development of metastases. PIVKA-II was positive in 15/22 cases without correlation with prognosis or tumoural grading even if a trend of PIVKA-II negativity in low WHO grades as well as increased number of PIVKA-II positive cases in higher WHO grades weres observed. CONCLUSIONS: This work showed that, PIVKA-II cannot be considered either as a marker of malignancy or as a prognostic marker for canine HCC. The poor prognosis depends usually on the clinical presentation. Thus prognostic parameters in canine HCC able to predict its aggressive behaviour through histological examination are still missing. The most promising method, limited to our study, seems to be the WHO histological grading.

The mitotic regulator polo-like kinase 1 as a potential therapeutic target for c-Myc-overexpressing canine osteosarcomas.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in dogs, characterized by a locally aggressive and highly metastatic behaviour. Despite the current standards of care, most dogs succumb to the disease, indicating the need for novel treatment strategies. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is dysregulated in a variety of human cancer types, including osteosarcoma, and induces c-Myc accumulation. The crosstalk between the two molecules coordinates cell proliferation, differentiation, self-renewal and apoptosis. Therefore, PLK1 has recently emerged as a potential therapeutic target, mainly in tumours overexpressing c-Myc. BI 2536 is a selective PLK1 inhibitor promoting mitotic arrest and apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. This research aimed at evaluating PLK1 and c-Myc protein expression in 53 appendicular canine osteosarcoma (cOSA) samples and the in vitro effects of BI 2536 on a c-Myc and PLK1-overexpressing cOSA cell line (D17). PLK1 and c-Myc expression in cOSA samples showed no correlation with clinicopathological data. However, c-Myc overexpression was associated with a significantly reduced overall survival (p = .003). Western Blot and RT-qPCR assays revealed that D17 expressed high protein and transcript levels of both PLK1 and MYC. When treated with BI 2536 (range 2.5-15 nM) for 24 h, D17 showed a substantial decrease in cell growth, inducing apoptosis and G2 /M cell cycle arrest. Interestingly, under BI 2536 treatment, D17 showed decreased c-Myc protein levels. Consistent with human OSA, these preliminary data outline the prognostic value of c-Myc expression in cOSA and highlight the potential role of PLK1 as an antiproliferative therapeutic target for tumours overexpressing c-Myc.

Reproducibility and Feasibility of Classification and National Guidelines for Histological Diagnosis of Canine Mammary Gland Tumours: A Multi-Institutional Ring Study.

Histological diagnosis of Canine Mammary Tumours (CMTs) provides the basis for proper treatment and follow-up. Nowadays, its accuracy is poorly understood and variable interpretation of histological criteria leads to a lack of standardisation and impossibility to compare studies. This study aimed to quantify the reproducibility of histological diagnosis and grading in CMTs. A blinded ring test on 36 CMTs was performed by 15 veterinary pathologists with different levels of education, after discussion of critical points on the Davis-Thompson Foundation Classification and providing consensus guidelines. Kappa statistics were used to compare the interobserver variability. The overall concordance rate of diagnostic interpretations of WP on identification of hyperplasia-dysplasia/benign/malignant lesions showed a substantial agreement (average k ranging from 0.66 to 0.82, with a k-combined of 0.76). Instead, outcomes on ICD-O-3.2 morphological code /diagnosis of histotype had only a moderate agreement (average k ranging from 0.44 and 0.64, with a k-combined of 0.54). The results demonstrated that standardised classification and consensus guidelines can produce moderate to substantial agreement; however, further efforts are needed to increase this agreement in distinguishing benign versus malignant lesions and in histological grading.

Canine and feline in situ mammary carcinoma: A comparative review.

Carcinoma in situ of the breast is a well-known entity in humans. In veterinary medicine, particularly in canine and feline mammary literature, there is no agreement whether the term in situ should be used to indicate a specific carcinoma histotype or the noninvasive status of a carcinoma of any histotype. Moreover, in the most recent histologic classification of mammary tumors published by the Davis-Thompson Foundation, it is suggested to abandon the term carcinoma in situ given the lack of standardized criteria defining this entity, replacing it with epitheliosis or ductal/lobular hyperplasia with severe atypia. This publication presents a critical review of the term in situ in human and veterinary medicine considering the evolution of the term over the years and its heterogeneous use by different authors, including variations in immunohistochemical markers for classification. This review aims to point out the lack of uniformity in the nomenclature and classification issues in veterinary medicine regarding the use of the term in situ, laying the ground for a process of standardization in future publications.

Antigen mimicry as an effective strategy to induce CSPG4-targeted immunity in dogs with oral melanoma: a veterinary trial.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer in humans. Conventional therapies have limited efficacy, and overall response is still unsatisfactory considering that immune checkpoint inhibitors induce lasting clinical responses only in a low percentage of patients. This has prompted us to develop a vaccination strategy employing the tumor antigen chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG)4 as a target. METHODS: To overcome the host's unresponsiveness to the self-antigen CSPG4, we have taken advantage of the conservation of CSPG4 sequence through phylogenetic evolution, so we have used a vaccine, based on a chimeric DNA molecule encompassing both human (Hu) and dog (Do) portions of CSPG4 (HuDo-CSPG4). We have tested its safety and immunogenicity (primary objectives), along with its therapeutic efficacy (secondary outcome), in a prospective, non-randomized, veterinary clinical trial enrolling 80 client-owned dogs with surgically resected, CSPG4-positive, stage II-IV oral melanoma. RESULTS: Vaccinated dogs developed anti-Do-CSPG4 and Hu-CSPG4 immune response. Interestingly, the antibody titer in vaccinated dogs was significantly associated with the overall survival. Our data suggest that there may be a contribution of the HuDo-CSPG4 vaccination to the improvement of survival of vaccinated dogs as compared with controls treated with conventional therapies alone. CONCLUSIONS: HuDo-CSPG4 adjuvant vaccination was safe and immunogenic in dogs with oral melanoma, with potential beneficial effects on the course of the disease. Thanks to the power of naturally occurring canine tumors as predictive models for cancer immunotherapy response, these data may represent a basis for the translation of this approach to the treatment of human patients with CSPG4-positive melanoma subtypes.

Prognostic impact of bone invasion in canine oral malignant melanoma treated by surgery and anti-CSPG4 vaccination: A retrospective study on 68 cases (2010-2020).

Prognosis of canine oral malignant melanoma encompasses clinical, histological and immunohistochemical parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of bone invasion in oral canine melanoma. Sixty-eight dogs bearing oral melanoma staged II and III that underwent surgery and anti-CSPG4 electrovaccination, with available histological data and a minimum follow up of minimum 1 year, were retrospectively selected. Bone invasion was detected on imaging and/or histology. Median survival time of dogs with evidence of bone invasion (group 1) was 397 days and significantly shorter compared with dogs with oral melanomas not invading the bone (group 2, 1063 days). Dogs with tumours localised at the level of the cheek, lip, tongue and soft palate (soft tissue - group 3) lived significantly longer compared with dogs having tumours within the gingiva of the maxilla or mandible (hard tissue - group 4) with a median survival time of 1063 and 470 days, respectively. Within group 4, the subgroup of dogs with tumours not invading the bone (group 5) showed a significant prolonged survival time (972 days) in comparison with dogs of group 1 (bone invasion group). Similar results were obtained for the disease-free intervals amongst the different groups. Statistical analysis showed that Ki67 and mitotic count were correlated with shorter survival in patients of group 1 (with bone invasion). Bone invasion should always be assessed since it appears to be a negative prognostic factor.

In Vivo Evaluation of a Pectin-Honey Hydrogel Coating on Polypropylene Mesh in a Rat Model of Acute Hernia.

Investigations about ventral hernia repair are focused on improving the quality, resistance, and biocompatibility of mesh. This study compared plain polypropylene mesh with a pectin-honey hydrogel-coated polypropylene mesh in an acute hernia model in rats. Forty Wistar rats, randomly assigned to two groups, were submitted to laparotomy, and a 1 cm × 2 cm fascial defect was created, centered on the midline. Uncoated (group C) or coated mesh (group T) was inserted in an inlay fashion to repair the defect. After 30 days, the rats were euthanized, and the presence of adhesions to the mesh was macroscopically evaluated. Histology and measurement of COX-2 as tissue inflammation markers were used to assess fascia tissue healing. Grades of adhesion were not different between groups. Histological score and COX-2 expression were not significantly different between groups, except for the higher inflammatory response demonstrated in group T. The pectin-hydrogel coated mesh could not reduce adhesion formation compared to uncoated polypropylene mesh but improved peritoneal regeneration and tissue healing.

Prognostic Value of Ki67 and Other Clinical and Histopathological Factors in Canine Apocrine Gland Anal Sac Adenocarcinoma.

Apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma (AGASACA) is locally aggressive and highly metastatic to regional lymph nodes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of Ki67 in surgically excised AGASACA. Prognostic impact of size, regional lymph nodes metastasis, hypercalcemia, histologic pattern, mitotic count, necrosis, inflammatory and lympho-vascular invasion, anisokaryosis and anisocytosis was also evaluated. Thirty-five dogs were included, twenty-four of which also had metastatic lymph nodes. When the entire population was evaluated, only metastatic disease spread to regional lymph nodes, and necrosis and inflammatory infiltration were correlated to prognosis. When only dogs with metastatic disease were evaluated, size, solid histologic pattern, presence of lymphatic and vascular invasion showed influence on prognosis. Ki67 index was not associated with survival time and disease free interval in any case. The results of this study showed that lymph nodes metastasis at diagnosis reduced disease free interval. Moreover, tumor size greater than 5.25 cm, presence of lymphatic and vascular invasion and a solid histologic pattern were associated with a shorter survival time in dogs with metastasis to regional lymph nodes. Ki67 expression was not significantly associated with prognosis, therefore it could not be considered as a prognostic factor in this tumor type, while the role of hypercalcemia remained unclear.

Benign or Low-Grade Malignant Masses Occupying the Pelvic Canal Space in 11 Dogs.

Dogs with benign intra-pelvic rectal or vaginal masses show symptoms indicating compression on the adjacent organs. Clinical signs usually develop late when the lesion is large enough to interfere functionally. The dogs were referred for severe fecal and/or urinary tenesmus. The data collected included signalment, clinical signs, results of physical examination, pre-surgical diagnostic tests, surgical technique used, surgical complications and histological findings. Digital rectal and vaginal examination allowed the detection of a mass occupying space in the pelvic cavity in all patients. Abdominal ultrasonography and/or total body computed tomography (CT) were used to better characterize the lesion and to exclude a metastatic spread of the tumor in case of malignancy. A dorsal approach to the rectum, a dorsal episiotomy, a midline celiotomy, and a combined perineal and abdominal approach were performed to remove the mass. No postoperative complications were observed. Benign and well-differentiated malignant mesenchymal neoplasms were histologically diagnosed. As a consequence of the chronic urethral compression caused by the mass, urinary incontinence and/or urinary retention were observed for a few postoperative days. Fecal tenesmus resolved in all cases in the immediate postoperative period. The dogs' quality of life quickly improved after surgery, especially considering the serious and life-threatening pre-surgical clinical conditions. Both the recovery time after surgery and overall survival were also evaluated.

Genomic and Transcriptomic Characterization of Canine Osteosarcoma Cell Lines: A Valuable Resource in Translational Medicine.

Osteosarcoma (OSA) represents the most common primary bone tumor in dogs and is characterized by a highly aggressive behavior. Cell lines represent one of the most suitable and reproducible pre-clinical models, and therefore the knowledge of their molecular landscape is mandatory to investigate oncogenic mechanisms and drug response. The present study aims at determining variants, putative driver genes, and gene expression aberrations by integrating whole-exome and RNA sequencing. For this purpose, eight canine OSA cell lines and one matched pair of primary tumor and normal tissue were analyzed. Overall, cell lines revealed a mean tumor mutational burden of 9.6 mutations/Mb (range 3.9-16.8). Several known oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, such as ALK, MYC, and MET, were prioritized as having a likely role in canine OSA. Mutations in eight genes, previously described as human OSA drivers and including TP53, PTCH1, MED12, and PI3KCA, were retrieved in our cell lines. When variants were cross-referenced with human OSA driver mutations, the E273K mutation of TP53 was identified in the Wall cell line and tumor sample. The transcriptome profiling detected two possible p53 inactivation mechanisms in the Wall cell line on the one hand, and in D17 and D22 on the other. Moreover, MET overexpression, potentially leading to MAPK/ERK pathway activation, was observed in D17 and D22 cell lines. In conclusion, our data provide the molecular characterization of a large number of canine OSA cell lines, allowing future investigations on potential therapeutic targets and associated biomarkers. Notably, the Wall cell line represents a valuable model to empower prospective in vitro studies both in human and in dogs, since the TP53 driver mutation was maintained during cell line establishment and was widely reported as a mutation hotspot in several human cancers.

Histopathological Classification of Canine Cutaneous Round Cell Tumors Using Deep Learning: A Multi-Center Study.

Canine cutaneous round cell tumors (RCT) represent one of the routine diagnostic challenges for veterinary pathologists. Computer-aided approaches are developed to overcome these restrictions and to increase accuracy and consistency of diagnosis. These systems are also of high benefit reducing errors when a large number of cases are screened daily. In this study we describe ARCTA (Automated Round Cell Tumors Assessment), a fully automated algorithm for cutaneous RCT classification and mast cell tumors grading in canine histopathological images. ARCTA employs a deep learning strategy and was developed on 416 RCT images and 213 mast cell tumors images. In the test set, our algorithm exhibited an excellent classification performance in both RCT classification (accuracy: 91.66%) and mast cell tumors grading (accuracy: 100%). Misdiagnoses were encountered for histiocytomas in the train set and for melanomas in the test set. For mast cell tumors the reduction of a grade was observed in the train set, but not in the test set. To the best of our knowledge, the proposed model is the first fully automated algorithm in histological images specifically developed for veterinary medicine. Being very fast (average computational time 2.63 s), this algorithm paves the way for an automated and effective evaluation of canine tumors.

Difference in outcome between curative intent vs marginal excision as a first treatment in dogs with oral malignant melanoma and the impact of adjuvant CSPG4-DNA electrovaccination: A retrospective study on 155 cases.

Canine oral malignant melanoma is locally invasive and highly metastatic. At present, the best option for local control is en bloc excision followed by radiation if excision margins are incomplete. Adjuvantly, the role of chemotherapy is dubious while immunotherapy appears encouraging. This retrospective study evaluated 155 dogs with oral malignant melanomas (24 stage I, 54 stage II, 66 stage III and 11 stage IV) managed in a single institution. The aim was to evaluate the differences in median survival time (MST) and disease-free interval (DFI) between dogs which, at presentation, were treated surgically with a curative intent (group 1) vs those marginally excised only (group 2). MST in group 1 was longer than in group 2 (594 vs 458 days), but no significant difference was found (P = .57); a statistical difference was, however, found for DFI (232 vs 183 days, P = .008). In the subpopulation of vaccinated dogs, the impact of adjuvant anti-CSPG4 DNA electrovaccination was then evaluated (curative intent, group 3, vs marginal, group 4); a significant difference for both MST (1333 vs 470 days, respectively, P = .03) and DFI (324 vs 184 days, respectively, P = .008) was found. Progressive disease was significantly more common in dogs undergoing marginal excision than curative intent excision for both the overall population (P = .03) and the vaccinated dogs (P = .02). This study pointed out that, after staging, wide excision together with adjuvant immunotherapy was an effective approach for canine oral malignant melanoma.

Evaluation of prognostic impact of pre-treatment neutrophil to lymphocyte and lymphocyte to monocyte ratios in dogs with oral malignant melanoma treated with surgery and adjuvant CSPG4-antigen electrovaccination: an explorative study.

The role of systemic inflammation in cancer's progression has been widely investigated, especially in melanoma in humans. Pre-treatment leukocyte counts and ratios play a recognized prognostic role in several types of malignancies, but no information is available regarding canine oral malignant melanoma (COMM). The purpose of this explorative retrospective study was to investigate the prognostic impact of pre-treatment neutrophil to lymphocyte (NLR) and lymphocyte to monocyte (LMR) ratios in dogs with oral malignant melanoma that underwent surgical resection and immunotherapy with adjuvant CSPG4-antigen electrovaccination. Thirty-nine dogs with histologically confirmed oral melanoma and with available pre-treatment haematological analyses, performed at maximum 60 days before the first treatment, were retrospectively enrolled. Statistical analysis was performed to explore possible correlations among NLR and LMR with age, clinical stage, tumour pigmentation, tumour size, nuclear atypia, mitotic index, Ki67, CSPG4 expression, ulceration, bone invasion and excision margins status. The impact of NLR and LMR on overall survival time (OST) was explored among various ratio cut off and across different time points with Kaplan-Meier method. No significant relationship was identified between leukocytes ratios and histological parameters, CSPG4 expression, excision margin status, age, tumour size and clinical stage. NLR and LMR did not display a prognostic impact on the survival time of the entire population. Pre-treatment leukocyte ratios may not represent a useful prognostic factor in dogs with oral melanoma, especially in absence of distant metastatic disease.