Author(s): Silva, Filipe ; Lopes, Carlos Alberto da Silva ; Alves, Anabela ; Queiroga, Felisbina ; Pires, Isabel
Date: 2009
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10348/2747
Origin: Repositório da UTAD
Subject(s): Canine cutaneous histiocytoma; E-cadherin; immunohistochemistry; tumour regression
Background: Canine cutaneous histiocytoma (CCH) is an epidermotropic tumour of Langerhans cells, most frequent in young dogs, which undergoes spontaneous regression. Materials and Methods: E-cadherin immunoexpression was analysed in ninety-three CCH, categorized according to Cockerell and Slauson (1976) criteria into four histological groups, representing different stages of tumour regression. Results: All tumours expressed membranous Ecadherin both in keratinocytes, and in tumoural cells and no differences were noted among the histological groups analysed.However, the intensity of the E-cadherin immunolabeling decreased in the presence of lymphoid infiltration and varied significantly among the groups considered (p<0.0001).Conclusion: This study strongly suggests a down-regulation of E-cadherin expression in CCH pathogenesis and progression.The loss of E-cadherin expression might represent an activation/ maturation process of the tumoural cells constituting a switch for CCH regression
