Prognostic Value of Occult Isolated Tumour Cells within Regional Lymph Nodes of Dogs with Malignant Mammary Tumours

Publication date: January 2018 Source:Journal of Comparative Pathology, Volume 158 Author(s): A.F. Coleto, T.M. Wilson, N.P. Soares, L.F. Gundim, I.P. Castro, E.C. Guimarães, M.B. Bandarra, A.A. Medeiros-Ronchi Canine mammary tumours (CMTs) are the most common type of neoplasm in bitches. As in women, the presence of metastasis in regional lymph nodes is an important prognostic factor in bitches with mammary carcinomas, but the clinical significance of occult isolated tumour cells (ITCs) within lymph nodes is still undefined in this species. The effectiveness of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in identifying occult ITCs and micrometastasis (MIC) was compared with that of the conventional haematoxylin and eosin staining technique. The relationship between tumour size, histological type, histological grade and the presence of metastasis was evaluated. The overall survival (OS) of female dogs with occult mammary carcinomas and ITCs within lymph nodes was analysed. Fragments of mammary carcinoma and regional lymph nodes of 59 female dogs were also evaluated. Histological sections of mammary carcinoma and lymph node samples were studied for tumour diagnosis and lymph node samples were tested by IHC using a pan-cytokeratin antibody. It was found that 35.2% of occult ITCs and 2.8% of hidden MIC were detected when IHC was used. There was a good correlation between the size of the tumour and metastasis to the lymph nodes (P = 0.77). ITCs were observed more frequently in the me...
Source: Journal of Comparative Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research