Immunohistochemical Expression of CCR2, CSF1R and MMP9 in Canine Inflammatory Mammary Carcinomas.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Canine inflammatory mammary cancer (IMC) and its human counterpart, inflammatory breast cancer, are extremely aggressive types of cancer. Our aim was to characterize immunohistochemical expression of C-C chemokine receptor 2, colony stimulating factor 1 receptor and metalloproteinase-9 in canine IMC versus non-IMC and to analyze associations with clinicopathological variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining of CCR2, CSF1R and MMP9 was performed in a series of 25 IMC and 15 non-IMC tumors. RESULTS: No differences in the expression of these biomarkers between IMC and non-IMC were observed. Distinct nuclear subcellular expression of CCR2 was observed in IMC (p<0.001). For IMC, higher CCR2 expression was associated with increased nuclear grade (p=0.037), and higher neoplastic MMP9 expression was associated with fewer mitoses (p=0.022), higher nuclear grade (p=0.047) and increased CSF1R expression (p=0.025). CONCLUSION: Expression of CCR2, CSF1R and MMP9 in canine IMC could contribute to increased nuclear pleomorphism, but the biological mechanisms involved warrant further investigation.