VEGF expression in dog mastocytoma.

Abstract

UNLABELLED: The biologic behavior of mastocytomas is highly variable; some tumors have a benign behavior, whereas others exhibit aggressive growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major regulator of angiogenesis and a potential autocrine growth factor for neoplastic cells in various malignancies. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In the present study, we have investigated expression of VEGF in cutaneous tumor from a dog and combined immunohistochemical expression of VEGF with mast cell tryptase, CD117 and vimentin. RESULTS: Tumor cells were positive for VEGF, and inflammatory cells were negative. VEGF expression was found in tumor cells as a heterogeneous positive reaction, with cytoplasmic pattern and moderate to strong in intensity. Arrangement of tumor cells was in clusters, in deepest part, close to the proliferation front. The dog died 5 month from the diagnosis, and our observation suggest that VEGF secretion by tumor cells correlates with unfavorable prognosis.