Clinicopathological Features of Apocrine Sweat Gland Carcinoma Treated with Surgical Excision in Five Dogs

Abstract

Summary:The clinicopathological features of apocrine sweat gland carcinoma in five dogs were evaluated. All five dogs were ≥12 years old and had a solitary lesion with ulceration due to tumor invasion into the epidermis. Glandular formation, desmoplasia, and stromal invasion were histopathologically observed in all cases. Two dogs also had features of scirrhous carcinoma. Wide tumor excision resulted in good local control in all dogs, but one with scirrhous carcinoma (interdigital forelimb tumor) developed metastasis to a superficial lymph node 3 months after surgery. Another dog with scirrhous carcinoma (tumor fixed to the elbow) with vascular invasion died of widespread skin metastasis 6 months after surgery. The dog with the highest mitotic index (tumor near the vagina) died of multiorgan metastases 7 months after surgery. The other two dogs showed no metastasis during the follow-up period. Wide excision may be useful for local control of apocrine sweat gland carcinoma in dogs; however, the metastatic potential should be considered in some dogs with histological features of scirrhous carcinoma, a high mitotic index, or vascular invasion.

Mutations of p53 gene in canine sweat gland carcinomas probably associated with UV radiation

“…Tumours can grow anywhere on the body, but most frequently on the head, neck, thorax and limbs ( 23 , 29 , 36 , 56 ). They are usually aggressive, with a tendency to local recurrence and metastasis to the regional lymph nodes, lungs, liver, bone and bone marrow via lymphatic and intravascular invasion both in humans ( 4 , 36 , 48 , 65 ) and dogs ( 3 , 19 , 22 , 42 , 56 ). The available literature describing canine ASGCs provides reports which focus mostly on the morphological appearance and epidemiological data, whereas little is known about the aetiology and molecular alterations underlying the development of these cancers.…”