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Identification of molecular phenotypes in canine mammary carcinomas with clinical implications: application of the human classification

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Abstract

Similarly to humans, canine mammary cancer represents a heterogeneous group in terms of morphology and biological behaviour. In the present study, we evaluated a series of canine mammary carcinomas based on a new human classification, initially based on gene expression profiling analysis. Similarly to human breast cancer, by using an immunohistochemistry surrogate panel based on five molecular markers [estrogen receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), cytokeratin 5, p63 and P-cadherin], we were able to classify canine mammary carcinomas into four different subtypes: luminal A [estrogen receptor (ER)+/HER2−; 44.8%], luminal B (ER+/HER2+; 13.5%), basal (ER−/HER2− and a basal marker positive; 29.2%) and HER2 overexpressing tumours (ER−/HER2+; 8.3%). Luminal A-type tumours were characterised by lower grade and proliferation rate, whereas basal-type tumours were mostly high grade, high proliferative and positive for cytokeratin 5, p63 and P-cadherin. In addition, as in humans, basal subtype was significantly associated with shorter disease-free and overall survival rates, and we propose canine mammary carcinomas as a suitable natural model for the study of this particular subset of human carcinomas.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Prof. Fátima Gärtner (Institute of Biomedical Science at the University of Porto, Portugal) for the contribution of some cases included in this study. We also thank Mrs Lígia Bento for expert technical assistance. This work was supported by the Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária (CECAV)—University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal and by Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation, project POCTI/CVT/57795/2004.

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We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Sciences, CECAV, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5001-811, Vila Real, Portugal

    A. Gama & A. Alves

  2. Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    F. Schmitt

  3. Medical Faculty, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    F. Schmitt

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  1. A. Gama
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Correspondence to F. Schmitt.

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Gama, A., Alves, A. & Schmitt, F. Identification of molecular phenotypes in canine mammary carcinomas with clinical implications: application of the human classification. Virchows Arch 453, 123–132 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-008-0644-3

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