An Immunohistochemical Study of Feline Endometrial Adenocarcinoma

• Published in: Journal of comparative pathology 2009-05, Vol.140 (4), p.254-259
• Main Authors: Gil da Costa, R.M., Santos, M., Amorim, I., Lopes, C., Pereira, P. Dias, Faustino, A.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adenocarcinoma - veterinary; Animals; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Case-Control Studies; cat; Cat Diseases - metabolism; Cats; endometrial adenocarcinoma; Endometrial Neoplasms - metabolism; Endometrial Neoplasms - pathology; Endometrial Neoplasms - veterinary; endometrium; Female; immunohistochemistry; Immunohistochemistry - veterinary
• ISSN: 0021-9975; 1532-3129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2008.12.006

Feline endometrial adenocarcinomas are uncommon malignant neoplasms that have to date been poorly characterized. The present immunohistochemical study describes the expression of the pancytokeratins AE1 and AE3, cytokeratin-14, vimentin, α-actin, cyclo-oxygenase-2, E-cadherin, β-catenin, the progesterone receptor, the oestrogen receptor and caveolin-1 within normal feline uterine tissue and tissue from six cats with endometrial adenocarcinoma. Synthesis of cyclo-oxygenase-2 and reduced expression of progesterone receptors may be involved in the neoplastic transformation of feline endometrium. The loss of cellular adhesion that occurs within these tumours does not require down-regulation of E-cadherin expression and nuclear translocation of β-catenin is not a feature of these neoplasms.