Immunodetection of p53 and HER2 in squamous cell carcinomas of dogs and cats

• Grant number: 13/15600-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2014
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Rosemeri de Oliveira Vasconcelos
• Grantee: Beatriz de Carvalho Pato Vila
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is a tumor often diagnosed at several domestic species, including dogs and cats. Their occurrence is linked to mutations induced by UV rays from the sun in cells of the epidermal layer of the skin, especially depigmented skin, leading to the development of tumors with variable degree of cellular pleomorphism and anaplasia, high mitotic index, and high capacity infiltration in adjacent tissue. There are studies showing that the p53 expression is altered in these tumors due to mutation of this gene as well, there are no studies that evaluate the role of HER2, a marker of poor prognosis, this tumor in dogs and cats. Likewise there are few studies that use a system of histological grading, to determine a degree of malignancy in these tumors, especially in dogs, which could contribute to the prognosis and treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the degree of malignancy of SCC canines, as described by Sabattini et al. (2010) in cats and to compare these findings with the immunodetection of p53 and HER2 by immunohistochemistry in SCCs of cats and dogs.