Currently, prognostic and therapeutic determinations for canine cutaneous mast cell tumors (MCTs) are primarily based on histologic grade. However, the use of different grading systems by veterinary pathologists and institutional modifications make the prognostic value of histologic grading highly questionable. To evaluate the consistency of microscopic grading among veterinary pathologists and the prognostic significance of the Patnaik grading system, 95 cutaneous MCTs from 95 dogs were

Abstract. Expression of P-glycoprotein, a phylogenetically conserved integral plasma membrane protein, is implicated as one of the most important factors contributing to tumor cell multidrug resistance. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded normal and neoplastic canine tissues were studied using an avidin-biotin complex technique employing three murine monoclonal antibodies (C494, C2 19, JSB-1) to different epitopes of the P-glycoprotein molecule. Evaluation of immunostaining of normal canine tissues revealed positive labeling detected by each antibody in the liver, proximal renal tubular epithelium, adrenal cortex, colonic epithelium, and capillary endothelial cells of the brain. A total of 166 tumors of epithelial or mesenchymal origin were evaluated for P-glycoprotein immunoreactivity. Hepatomas (4/4), colorectal adenomas (7/7), colorectal carcinomas (4/4), adrenal cortical adenomas (3/3), hemangiopericytomas (1 5/ 15), apocrine gland adenocarcinomas (4/5, go%), and transitional cell carcinomas (2/2) consistently labeled with at least one of the antibodies. Histiocytomas (0/ lo), cutaneous plasma cell tumors (0/10), fibromas (0/3), fibrosarcomas (0/4), and leiomyomas (0/4) were uniformly negative with all antibodies. Malignant lymphomas (6/22, 27.3%), malignant melanomas (4/13, 30.8%), leiomyosarcomas (3/6, 50°/o), mammary gland carcinomas (1 2/ 19, 63.2%), mammary gland adenomas (3/9, 33.3%), squamous cell carcinomas @/lo, go%), basal cell tumors (5/7, 71.4%), apocrine gland adenomas (1/2, So%), cholangiocarcinomas (2/3, 66.7%), and thyroid gland carcinomas (2/4, 50%) gave variable results. The antibodies C494, JSB-1, and C219 labeled 66/166 (39.8%), 53/166 (31.9%), and 38/166 (22.9%) of all tumors studied, respectively. A total of 26/166 (15.7%), 22/166 (13.3%), and 371166 (22.6%) of tumors were labeled by all three, just two, or one antibody alone, respectively. The antibody C494 was the only antibody labeling 28/166 (16.9%) of the cases. JSB-I alone labeled 9/166 (5.4%) of the tumors. C219 failed to label any tumors not also labeled by either C494 or JSB-I. Labeling by C494 was more intense and specific than labeling by the other two antibodies. Results indicate that P-glycoprotein can be detected in routinely processed canine tissues. The detection of P-glycoprotein within canine liver, kidney, adrenal gland, and colon and within tumors arising from these tissues is consistent with that reported in the literature for human tissues. Variable labeling results of other tumors such as malignant lymphoma and mammary gland carcinomas also is consistent with reports of human studies. Detection of multidrug resistance markers such as P-glycoprotein in canine tissues may provide additional information upon which to base a prognosis or to design treatment regimens for canine tumors.

Sections from 35 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, canine gastrointestinal stromal tumors consisting of 14 leiomyomas (five stomach, three small intestine, two colon, four rectum), 18 leiomyosarcomas (one stomach, five small intestine, nine cecum, three rectum), two undifferentiated sarcomas (two stomach), and one neurofibrosarcoma (small intestine) were examined for the expression of vimentin, S-100 protein, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and desmin via immunoperoxidase methodology using an avidin-biotin complex technique. The leiomyomas were 4/14 (29%) vimentin-positive, 3/14 (21%) S-100 protein-positive, 10/14 (71%) alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive and 13/14 (93%) desmin-positive. Leiomyosarcomas were 18/18 (100%) vimentin-positive, 11/18 (61%) S-100 protein-positive, 9/18 (50%) a-smooth muscle actin-positive, and 15/18 (83%) desmin-positive. The undifferentiated sarcomas were 2/2 (100%) vimentin-positive, 2/2 (100%) S-100 protein-positive, 1/2 (50%) alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive, and 0/2 (0%) desmin-positive. The neurofibrosarcoma was vimentin and S-100 protein-positive and alpha-smooth muscle actin- and desmin-negative. Thirty-one of thirty-five (89%) of all neoplasms demonstrated reactivity for either desmin and/or alpha-smooth muscle actin. S-100 protein reactivity occurred in 17/35 (49%) of all specimens. Lack of desmin and alpha-smooth muscle actin reactivity occurred in 4/35 (11%) of all specimens, all of which were vimentin-positive. The immunohistochemical results indicate that the majority of canine gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with light microscopic features of smooth muscle cells have immunohistochemical staining patterns supporting smooth muscle differentiation. Vimentin reactivity correlated with a light microscopic diagnosis of malignancy. The lack of smooth muscle cell markers in some tumors and the high percentage of cases positive for S-100 protein may suggest a more complex histogenesis or differentiation for subgroups of these tumors.

Eighty-three canine cutaneous mast cell tumors were graded histologically and evaluated immunohistochemically for p53 tumor-suppressor protein expression. An avidin-biotin immunohistochemical protocol incorporated a rabbit polyclonal antibody (CM-1) directed against normal and mutant p53 protein. Positive staining was observed in 44.6% (37/83) of tumors and included 50% (12/24) of grade I (well differentiated) tumors, 46.9% (23/49) of grade II (intermediate differentiation) tumors, and 20% (2/10) of grade III (poorly differentiated) tumors. A statistically significantly higher proportion (P < 0.019) of tumors from the head and neck (83.3%, 10/12), stained positive for p53 than tumors from the thorax, back, abdomen, and axilla (39.4%, 13/33), legs (35.7%, 10/28), or prepuce, scrotal, or inguinal areas (44.4%, 4/9). No statistically significant difference between p53 labeling and histologic grade, breed, or tumor size was present. Survival data were available for 53/83 (63.9%) of dogs. Positive reactivity for p53 was observed in 47% (25/53) of tumors within this group, with 57.9% (11/19) of grade I, 43.3% (13/30) of grade II, and 25% (1/4) of grade III tumors labeled. Mean survival time for the 53 dogs was 12.1 months. The median survival time for dogs with grade III tumors or tumors >5 cm was statistically significantly shorter (P < 0.0001) than for dogs with grades I and II or smaller tumors. Although p53 protein abnormalities may play a role in tumor development or behavior in some canine cutaneous mast cell tumors, immunoreactivity was not associated with lack of tumor differentiation, tumor locations previously shown to demonstrate aggressive biological behavior, breed predisposition, or survival times.