Evaluation of melatonin treatment in primary culture of canine mammary tumors

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Immunohistochemical and molecular analysis of caveolin-1 expression in canine mammary tumors

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Use of surgery and carboplatin in feline malignant mammary gland neoplasms with advanced clinical staging

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Doppler and Elastography as complementary diagnostic methods for mammary neoplasms in female cats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

B-Mode and doppler sonography of the mammary glands in dairy goats for mastitis diagnosis

Contents This study aimed to evaluate the sonographic characteristics of the udder and teats and to determine the Doppler indexes of mammary artery in healthy and undergoing subclinical and clinical mastitis goats. Thirty animals among Saanen and Alpine Brown goats were arranged in three groups, healthy goats (HG), goats with subclinical mastitis (SMG) and goats with clinical mastitis (CMG). Using the B-mode, the sonographic characteristics (echotexture and echogenicity) and biometry (diameter and area of the udder cistern, diameter and area of the teat cistern and thickness of the teat wall) were evaluated. Using Doppler ultrasonography, the vascular indexes of the mammary artery were obtained. It was observed hyperechogenicity with solid component in the gland cistern when comparing animals with clinical mastitis and healthy mammary tissue. Regarding the echotexture of the breast tissue, there was heterogeneity in the mammary parenchyma on the three groups, for the milk, it was observed homogeneity for animals on HG and SMG and heterogeneity for animals on CMG. Grey-scale quantitative assessment revealed increase in echogenicity (mean value) for all the structures when comparing the three groups. Biometry did not reveal statistical difference between groups, for none of the evaluated structures. Doppler examination of the mammary artery showed the decrease of end diastolic velocity and raise of pulsatility index between groups. The association of B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography is useful for the evaluation of the udder of dairy goats with mastitis. It is a sensitive and specific method for the study of this disease. Doppler mode was unable to establish reliable criteria for diagnosis of subclinical mastitis. Moreover, the quantification of echogenicity is a useful technique for the evaluation of the milk in animals with mastitis; therefore, it is suggested that it can be used as complementary technique for the diagnosis of mastitis in goats.

Prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha in canine malignant mammary tumors

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chemopreventive effects of mate against mouse mammary and colon carcinogenesis

The present study evaluated the chemopreventive potential of mate tea-like intake on mammary and colon carcinogenesis initiated by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)antracene (DMBA) and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) in female Swiss mice. After the initiation period, the animals received basal diet and organic mate tea-like, conventional mate tea-like, or green tea (positive control) at 2.0% as the drinking fluid during 15 weeks. At week 20, colon and mammary gland were analyzed for preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions development. Colon and mammary gland complexes were processed for cell proliferation analysis, estimated by proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index (PCNA-LI%). Specially, organic mate tea-like reduced the values of PCNA-LI% in colonic crypts (p < .003) and in mammary glands (p < .05) in DMBA/DMH-initiated groups. A lower incidence of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in colon (p = .03) and of hyperplastic and neoplastic lesions in mammary gland (p < .05 and p < .02, respectively) was observed in DMBA/DMH-initiated groups treated with organic mate tea-like. These results suggest that post-initiation treatment with organic mate tea-like inhibited the development of colon and mammary carcinogenesis in a two-step medium-term mouse carcinogenesis model.

Oxidative stress and inflammatory response biomarkers in dogs with mammary carcinoma

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Cytologic analysis of the mammary papillar discharge in a canine micropapillary carcinoma

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of prognostic factors and survival rates in malignant feline mammary gland neoplasms

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The role of qualea multiflora on mammary tumour cells and immune system

Species of the genus Qualea are used by the Brazilian public as a natural anti-inflammatory. Based on this evidence, we evaluated the effects of terpene fractions (βF and TF) obtained from Qualea multiflora on nitric oxide production (Griess assay), cytokines (IL-1, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-a) and the transcription factor NF-κB by peritoneal macrophages. Since there is a relationship between inflammation and cancer, the cytotoxicity of βF and TF against mammary tumoural cell lineage, and macrophages was evaluated. Inhibition levels close to 90% of the production of NO, IL-1, IL-12 and TNF-a; about 32% of NF-κB; and a large stimulation of IL-10 production (close to the positive control) by peritoneal macrophages were observed in response to βF and TF which are correlated with anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, the samples showed exceptional cytotoxic activity against tumoural cells but not against macrophages. Since anti-inflammatory activity is important in tumour inhibition, further examination of potential anti-cancerous activity of Qualea multiflora is warranted.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Mammary Gland in Domestic Cat

Background: In the feline species, 80% to 93% of neoplasias in the mammary gland are malignant, being the majority carcinomas. Among them, there is the mammary squamous cell carcinoma, which amounts to a very rare neoplasm in the domestic cat, with considerable potential for malignancy. This study aimed to report a case of squamous cell mammary carcinoma in the feline species. Case: A female cat, mixed breed, ten years old, presented history of skin lesion. The cat had been spayed two years before, but with previous administration of contraceptives. At the physical examination, it was observed ulcer between the caudal abdominal mammary glands. The occurrence of skin or mammary neoplasia was conceived. The following complementary tests were requested: complete blood count, serum biochemical profile (renal and hepatic), chest radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, and incisional biopsy of the ulcerated region periphery, followed by classic histopathology. The lesion histopathology was compatible with squamous cell carcinoma of the mammary gland. Due to such a diagnosis, bilateral mastectomy was recommended. The material obtained during the surgical procedure was sent for anatomopathological analysis. Microscopically, surgical margins infiltration and a regional lymph node were verified. The owner was advised of the need for complementary therapies and medical monitoring of the cat. However, there was no return. It is noteworthy that the animal's physical and laboratory examinations showed no neoplasia in other regions, being the squamous cell carcinoma of the mammary gland considered primary. Discussion: The malignant mammary neoplasia genesis in feline species, in general, seems to be related to steroid hormones. The ovariectomized females are less likely to develop the disease when compared to intact cats, but there is no protective effect of surgery on those spayed after two years of age regarding the appearance of the neoplasia. Thus, at the time the reported patient was ovariectomized, this effect no longer occurred. The synthetic progestins regularly used to prevent estrus increase by three times the risk of breast carcinomas onset. In humans, there is no clear definition of the etiology and pathogenesis of mammary squamous cell carcinoma. However, it has been suggested its association with extreme forms of squamous metaplasia present in pre-existing mammary adenocarcinoma, besides cysts, chronic inflammations, abscesses and mammary gland adenofibromas. In a hypothetical way, this etiology could also be related to the feline mammary carcinoma, although, for the case at issue, the exogenous and endogenous hormonal influence should not be excluded. It has been reported that mammary squamous cell carcinomas in cats are classified in grades II and III (ie, moderately and poorly differentiated, respectively). Thus, they are considered tumors with more unfavorable prognosis. However, the monitoring of the clinical course, in order to evaluate possible recurrence of the neoplasia and metastases to distant sites, was not possible as the animal under discussion did not return. The squamous cell carcinoma is the most common skin tumor in feline species, despite the primary location in the mammary gland. It is, therefore, important to differentiate squamous cell carcinoma originated in the breast from histological types derived from skin. The description of this special and rare feline mammary carcinoma is important due to its particular characteristics and potential for malignancy.

Gene Expression Profile in Response to Doxorubicin-Rapamycin Combined Treatment of HER-2-Overexpressing Human Mammary Epithelial Cell Lines

HER-2-positive breast cancers frequently sustain elevated AKT/mTOR signaling, which has been associated with resistance to doxorubicin treatment. Here, we investigated whether rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, increased the sensitivity to doxorubicin therapy in two HER-2-overexpressing cell lines: C5.2, which was derived from the parental HB4a by transfection with HER-2 and SKBR3, which exhibits HER-2 amplification. The epithelial mammary cell line HB4a was also analyzed. The combined treatment using 20 nmol/L of rapamycin and 30 nmol/L of doxorubicin arrested HB4a and C5.2 cells in S to G(2)-M, whereas SKBR3 cells showed an increase in the G(0)-G(1) phase. Rapamycin increased the sensitivity to doxorubicin in HER-2-overexpressing cells by approximately 2-fold, suggesting that the combination displayed a more effective antiproliferative action. Gene expression profiling showed that these results might reflect alterations in genes involved in canonical pathways related to purine metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, protein ubiquitination, and mitochondrial dysfunction. A set of 122 genes modulated by the combined treatment and specifically related to HER-2 overexpression was determined by finding genes commonly regulated in both C5.2 and SKBR3 that were not affected in HB4a cells. Network analysis of this particular set showed a smaller subgroup of genes in which coexpression pattern in HB4a cells was disrupted in C5.2 and SKBR3. Altogether, our data showed a subset of genes that might be more robust than individual markers in predicting the response of HER-2-overexpressing breast cancers to doxorubicin and rapamycin combination. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(2); 464-74. (C) 2011 AACR.