Expression of Podoplanin in Mammary Cancers in Female Dogs

Abstract

Background/aim: Mammary neoplasms are very common tumours in female dogs. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in the oncogenesis process. One of the useful proteins used in the diagnostics of CAFs cells is podoplanin (PDPN). The aim of our study was to assess the expression of PDPN in mammary cancer in female dogs.

Materials and methods: Our study cohort included 61 cancers and 21 adenomas of the mammary tumour in bitches. Expression of podoplanin, Ki-67 and HER2 was determined using the Immunohistochemical (IHC) method. PDPN expression at the mRNA level was determined using real-time PCR.

Results: Expression of PDPN in CAFs was observed in 22.9% of cases of mammary cancers in bitches, with no PDPN expression in adenomas. A positive correlation was found between the expression of PDPN in CAFs and the grade of histological malignancy and expression of Ki-67.

Conclusion: PDPN plays a significant role during the process of carcinogenesis of mammary tumours in female dogs.

Keywords: CAFs; PDPN; Podoplanin; adenoma; female dog; mammary tumour.