This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Restucci, B. Articles by De Vico, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Restucci, B. Articles by De Vico, G.

Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Canine Mammary Tumors

Dipartimento di Patologia e Sanità Animale, Settore Anatomia Patologica, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italia (BR, SP, PM); and Istituto di Patologia Generale e Anatomia Patologica, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Messina, Messina, Italia (GDV)

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a dimeric protein that stimulates angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo by inducing endothelial cell proliferation and migration. In this immunohistochemical study, VEGF-immunolabeled cells were counted in a series of 10 benign and 40 malignant canine mammary tumors. The morphologic pattern of VEGF positivity (intensity of immunolabeling and VEGF granule size and distribution) was also evaluated. A low number of cells weakly positive for VEGF with few and small granules polarized to the luminal pole was detected in benign neoplasms. In contrast, in malignancies a high number of VEGF-positive cells had strong immunolabeling, often with large granules found diffusely in the cytoplasm. This level of immunolabeling was more pronounced in the less differentiated, more malignant phenotypes (grade 3). Macrophages, which can synthesize VEGF, were strongly positive. Stromal and myoepithelial cells were negative. VEGF data were correlated statistically with intratumoral microvessel density (number of newly formed microvessels) and both measures were greater in less differentiated malignant neoplasms, demonstrating that angiogenesis and malignancy increase together. VEGF appears to be a powerful angiogenic factor in canine mammary tumors.

Key words: Angiogenesis; canine mammary neoplasms; intratumoral microvessel density; VEGF.

Request reprints from Dr. B. Restucci, Department of Pathology and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Napes (Italy).

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. J. Dickinson, B. K. Sturges, R. J. Higgins, B. N. Roberts, C. M. Leutenegger, A. W. Bollen, and R. A. LeCouteur Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor mRNA Expression and Peritumoral Edema in Canine Primary Central Nervous System Tumors Vet. Pathol., March 1, 2008; 45(2): 131 - 139. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. N. Al-Dissi, D. M. Haines, B. Singh, and B. A. Kidney Immunohistochemical Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Associated with Tumor Cell Proliferation in Canine Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Trichoepitheliomas Vet. Pathol., November 1, 2007; 44(6): 823 - 830. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. H. Luong, K. E. Baer, D. M. Craft, S. N. Ettinger, T. J. Scase, and P. J. Bergman Prognostic significance of intratumoral microvessel density in canine soft-tissue sarcomas. Vet. Pathol., September 1, 2006; 43(5): 622 - 631. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. K. Pryer, L. B. Lee, R. Zadovaskaya, X. Yu, J. Sukbuntherng, J. M. Cherrington, and C. A. London Proof of Target for SU11654: Inhibition of KIT Phosphorylation in Canine Mast Cell Tumors Clin. Cancer Res., November 15, 2003; 9(15): 5729 - 5734. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]