Short Communications
Immunohistochemical detection of estrogen receptors in canine mammary tumors
Elena Atanaskova Petrov ,
Ivica Gjurovski ,
Trpe Ristoski ,
Goran Nikolovski ,
Pandorce Trenkoska ,
Plamen Trojacanec ,
Ksenija Ilievska ,
Toni Dovenski * ,
Gordana Petrushevska

Mac Vet Rev 2016; 39 (1): 117 - 121

10.1515/macvetrev-2016-0073

Received: 17 August 2015

Received in revised form: 21 December 2015

Accepted: 04 January 2016

Available Online First: 18 January 2016

Published on: 15 March 2016

Correspondence: Toni Dovenski, dovenski@fvm.ukim.edu.mk
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Abstract

Mammary tumors are among the most common neoplasms in intact female dogs.They have a complex morphology, usually affecting middle age and older bitches. Almost 50% of the mammary tumors in dogs are malignant neoplasms. Prognosis is based on several factors: stage, age, tumor size, metastasis, histopathology, ovariectomy status and hormone-receptor activity. Immunohistochemical (IHC) measurement has become increasingly an important diagnostic and prognostic parameter, with the development of monoclonal antibodies against nuclear estrogen and progestin receptors. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of ER receptors in malignant canine mammary tumors and to identify their association with the clinical course of the tumor. Mammary tumor samples have been obtained by mastectomy from dogs presented at our clinic. Detailed clinical examination, CBC and basic serum biochemical profile were performed in all patients. Surgery was the only treatment. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical detection of estrogen α receptors (ERα) was performed on 8 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples, using the PT LINK immunoperoxidase technique. Histopathological examination of the mammary tumor samples (n=11) revealed tubular adenocarcinoma (n=6,54.5%) and ductal adenocarcinoma (n=3, 27.3%), one patient with benign adenoma and one with mastitis. Patients with positive ER tumors are alive, without remission, while 3 of the patients that were ER negative died due to lung metastases. According to our results, it can be concluded that the appearance and development of canine mammary tumors is highly connected with ovarian steroid hormones and that immunostaining of the tumors may be used as a good prognostic parameter in these patients.

Keywords: dog, mammary tumor, histopathology, immunohistochemy, ERα receptors


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Copyright

© 2016 Atanaskova Petrov E. This is an open-access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared that they have no potential conflict of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 39, Issue 1, Pages 117-121, p-ISSN 1409-7621, e-ISSN 1857-7415, DOI: 10.1515/macvetrev-2016-0073, 2016