Detection of micrometastasis of spontaneous mammary tumors in lymph nodes of female dogs utilizing the receptor CD44

• Grant number: 08/02739-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2008
• End date: June 30, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Carlos Alessi
• Grantee: Antonio Carlos Alessi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Dogs have been used as appropriated models in neoplasia research involving mammary tumors. This applicability refers to the high incidence of mammary tumors in female dogs and also to the similar biological behavior of those neoplasias, while compared between human and canine. Biologic characteristics of malignant tumors include invasion and metastases and straight influence on the mammary cancer prognosis. The neoplasms dissemination via lymphatic vessels still have not been widely understood, but it is already known that it is the most common and maybe the first place where it is possible to find malignant cells. Therefore, the study of micrometastases in draining lymph nodes originated from the tumor is a useful method within therapeutic protocols of the diseases. Receptors involved on the metastasis process will be analyzed utilizing immunohistochemistry technique in mammary neoplasias and lymph nodes of female dogs, such as CD44, VEGF, Metalloproteinase and E-caderine. The presence of these molecules will be correlated with the behavior of the tumors in female dogs. The knowledge of molecular mechanisms that induce metastasis can eventually make possible to improve therapeutic protocols to restrain the tumor invasion. The study will search the correlation between CD44 and the behavior of mammary tumors in female dogs. On the other hand, the study expects to obtain results that will improve the prognosis and treatment and also give a better comprehension of the neoplasia. Information obtained in the female dogs can contribute to the research in humans. (AU)