Decrease of E-cadherin expression in canine cutaneous histiocytoma appears to b...

• Author(s): Pires, Isabel ; Queiroga, Felisbina ; Alves, Anabela ; Silva, Filipe ; Lopes, Carlos
• Date: 2009
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10348/2747
• Origin: Repositório da UTAD
• Subject(s): Canine cutaneous histiocytoma; E-cadherin; immunohistochemistry; tumour regression
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

Background: Canine cutaneous histiocytoma (CCH) is an epidermotropic tumour of Langerhans cells, most frequent in young dogs, which undergoes spontaneous regression. Materials and Methods: E-cadherin immunoexpression was analysed in ninety-three CCH, categorized according to Cockerell and Slauson (1976) criteria into four histological groups, representing different stages of tumour regression. Results: All tumours expressed membranous Ecadherin both in keratinocytes, and in tumoural cells and no differences were noted among the histological groups analysed.However, the intensity of the E-cadherin immunolabeling decreased in the presence of lymphoid infiltration and varied significantly among the groups considered (p<0.0001).Conclusion: This study strongly suggests a down-regulation of E-cadherin expression in CCH pathogenesis and progression.The loss of E-cadherin expression might represent an activation/ maturation process of the tumoural cells constituting a switch for CCH regression