Immunohistochemical study of the expression of HIF1-alpha in canine cutaneous mast cell tumors

• Grant number: 14/06129-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo de Francisco Strefezzi
• Grantee: Isabela Esteves de Campos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Malignancy and high metastatic rates are characteristic of cutaneous mast cell tumors in dogs. Therefore, the study of prognostic indicators to guide further research for treatment modalities becomes increasingly important. Tumoral hypoxia is a frequent event in this type of malignancy, and is capable of change the tumoral microenvironment by interfering with the expression of specific genes. However, to compensate the low cellular oxygenation, this set of modifications may impair or improve the prognosis of cancer. The increased expression of HIF1-alpha (hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha), which, once active, induces the production of matrix metalloproteinases and other important growth factors such as VEGF and angiopoietins, is responsible for stimulate the formation of new vasculature in the tumor mass, the process of angiogenesis. Often, cell invasion and metastatic capabilities are also enhanced by HIF1-alpha, which is associated to tumor malignancy. In the present study we will investigate possible relations between the immunohistochemical expression of HIF1-alpha, histological features and prognosis of 50 cases of canine mast cell tumors of different histopathological grades.