Immunohistochemical characterization of canine prostatic carcinoma and correlation with castration status and castration time

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize canine prostate cancer using immunohistochemical staining specific for acinar and urothelial/ductal tissue and correlate these results with the dogs' castration status/castration time. Seventy dogs with prostate cancer were included, 71% were castrated and 29% were intact. Compared with an age-matched control population, castrated dogs were at increased risk of prostate cancer, odds ratio 3.9. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 58 cases. Forty-six of the 58 stained positive for cytokeratin 7 (CK 7) (ductal/urothelial origin) and one of the 58 stained positive for prostate-specific antigen. Dogs with CK 7-positive tumours were younger when castrated than dogs with CK 7-negative tumours, 2 versus 7 years (P = 0.03); dogs castrated at <or=2 years of age were more likely to be CK 7-positive (P = 0.009). These results show that most canine prostatic carcinomas are of ductal/urothelial, androgen-independent origin. This is consistent with the epidemiological findings, showing increased risk in castrated dogs. Canine prostate cancer may, therefore, not be a realistic model for the human disease.

Gesundheitliche Vor- und Nachteile der Kastration von Hündinnen und Rüden

“…Die tumoröse Entartung der Prostata ist eine 70 seltene, jedoch häufig bösartige Erkrankung. Auffällig ist die 2.84 mal höhere Inzidenz und der aggressivere Verlauf von Prostatatumoren (PT) bei kastrierten Rüden (Bell et al, 1991;Teske et al, 2002;Sorenmo et al, 2003;Bryan et al, 2007), was mit einer Zunahme von Endothelinrezeptoren im Prostatagewebe zusammenhängen könnte (Padley et al, 2002).…”

Canine Prostate Carcinoma: Four Clinical Cases in Sexually Intact and Neutered Dogs

“…The early stage of human prostate cancer is an intra-epithelial neoplasia (PIN) in dog the relationship between PIN and prostate carninoma is unknown. Canine prostate neoplasia does not express androgen receptor and the castration may be associated with an increased risk of prostate adenocarcinoma [4,10]. Castration modified the stromal component of the gland from primarily actin-positive smooth muscle cells to vimentin-positive mesenchymal cells.…”

A literature review on the welfare implications of gonadectomy of dogs

“…11,13,16,43,[63][64][65][66] In the past, castration was recommended as part of treatment and viewed to have the potential to decrease the risk of prostatic carcinoma. 34,50,63 More recent studies 13,67,68 have shown castration to be a risk factor for development of prostate neoplasia in male dogs, with the OR ranging between 3.6 and 4.34 for prostatic carcinoma. The age at castration may not have an effect on when prostatic carcinoma develops because the interval between castration and onset of prostatic problems is highly variable.…”