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EGFR overexpression in canine primary lung cancer: pathogenetic implications and impact on survival
Author(s) -
Sabattini S.,
Mancini F. R.,
Marconato L.,
Bacci B.,
Rossi F.,
Vignoli M.,
Bettini G.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
veterinary and comparative oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1476-5829
pISSN - 1476-5810
DOI - 10.1111/vco.12002
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , lung cancer , epidermal growth factor receptor , carcinogenesis , medicine , pathology , lung , metastasis , stage (stratigraphy) , cancer research , cancer , oncology , biology , paleontology
This study reports the main clinicopathological features of primary lung cancer ( PLC ) in 37 dogs, with special regard to the pathogenetic and prognostic role of epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR ) overexpression. For each case the following characteristics were evaluated: tumour‐node‐metastasis (TNM) stage, tumour histotype, histological grade, mitotic activity and immunohistochemical expression of EGFR . In samples with available normal lung tissue, the amount of background anthracosis was also measured by image analysis. In 27 tumours (73%) a variable number of cells (20–100%) stained positively for EGFR . The proportion of EGFR ‐positive tumours was significantly higher in cases with background anthracosis, and the amount of anthracosis was correlated with the percentage of positive tumour cells. Additionally, a trend towards shortened survival for the high EGFR group was observed. These findings suggest an involvement of EGFR signalling pathway in canine PLC , a negative prognostic significance of protein overexpression and its potential implication in air pollution carcinogenesis.