Tumor-infiltrating CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes and macrophages are associated with prognostic factors in triple-negative canine mammary complex type carcinoma

Author(s)

Franzoni, Mayara Simao ^[1] ; Brandi, Andressa ^[1] ; de Oliveira Matos Prado, Jane Karlla ^[2] ; Elias, Fabiana ^[2] ; Dalmolin, Fabfola ^[2] ; Lainetti, Patricia de Faria ^[1] ; Mangini Prado, Maria Carolina ^[1] ; Leis-Filho, Antonio Fernando ^[1] ; Fonseca-Alves, Carlos Eduardo ^{[1, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ, UNESP, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Dept Vet Surg & Anesthesiol, BR-18618681 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Fronteira Sul, Superintendencia Unidade Hosp Vet Univ, Realeza - Brazil

^[3] Univ Paulista, UNIP, Bauru, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Research in Veterinary Science; v. 126, p. 29-36, OCT 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the association of CD3(+), CD4(+), and CD8(+) T cells and tumor-infiltrating macrophages (TIMs) with the clinical parameters of female dogs harboring mammary gland tumors. Thirty female dogs affected with mammary carcinomas were used, and all tumors were histologically classified as complex carcinoma and were triple-negative phenotype determined by immunohistochemistry. Freshly frozen sections were used to determine CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells by immunohistochemistry, and TIMs were determined by immunofluorescence assays. Ten out of the 30 dogs showed lymph node metastasis at diagnosis. Fifteen dogs had a tumor of grade I (15/30), nine (9/30) had a tumor of grade II and six (6/30) had a tumor of grade III. The mean overall survival was 680.5 days ( +/- 200.4). Dogs with sentinel lymph node positivity (10/30) (P = .0035) and dogs that developed metastasis (P = .0001) showed a shorter survival time. In addition, dogs with a high level of inflammatory infiltrate in tumor tissues presented a shorter survival time (P = .0001) than that of other dogs. Dogs with tumors containing higher numbers of CD3+ T cells (P = .001), CD4+ T cells (P = .001), or TIM cells (P < .0001) showed a shorter survival time than that of other dogs. Our results suggested that characteristics of immune cell infiltrates, including CD3(+) T cells, CD4(+) T cells, and TIMs, can be used as potential prognostic indicators for predicting clinical outcomes in dogs with mammary gland tumors, particularly tumors with a complex histological subtype and triple-negative phenotype. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/21474-9 - In vitro firocoxib antitumor activity in canine mammary carcinoma cells and its metastasis
• Grantee: Andressa Brandi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation