Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Giant cells in anaplastic mammary carcinoma of the dog and cat.
- Journal:
- Journal of comparative pathology
- Year:
- 1993
- Authors:
- Della Salda, L et al.
- Affiliation:
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology · Italy
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at four rare cases of a type of breast cancer called anaplastic mammary carcinoma in three dogs and one cat. The researchers found that many of the giant cells in these tumors had characteristics of epithelial cells, which are the cells that line organs. They also discovered a different type of giant cell in one tumor that looked benign and had features similar to certain immune cells. The findings suggest that these giant cells might come from stem cells, which could help explain how some mammary tumors in dogs develop. Overall, the study provides insights into the complex nature of these tumors, but it does not indicate a specific treatment outcome.
Abstract
Four uncommon anaplastic mammary carcinomas containing numerous giant cells are described in three dogs and one cat. The giant cells of all cases were studied by means of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to detect epithelial (carcinoembryonic antigen and keratin) and mesenchymal (vimentin, lysozyme and S-100 protein) differentiation. Most of them proved to have an epithelial immunophenotype. Ultrastructurally, scattered bundles of tonofilaments but no lysosome-like bodies could be detected. One tumour had an additional, different type of giant cell, which had a benign multinucleated osteoclast-like appearance, gave positive staining for acid phosphatase, had a histiocytic-stromal immunohistochemical pattern, and was, ultrastructurally, multinucleate with irregular folds and no evidence of tonofilaments. In one case some giant cells had an epithelial immunophenotype and others a stromal immunophenotype, even though their histological and ultrastructural features were the same. In the least histologically differentiated tumour the giant cells presented a coexpression of intermediate filaments. This supported the theory that there might be a stem cell origin for most canine mammary tumours.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8106667/