Usefulness of immunohistochemical indicators for diagnosis and prognosis of poorly differentiated tumours

Abstract

Immunohistochemical studies have become an indispensable element of establishing the correct histopathological diagnosis of poorly differentiated lesions, proving particularly suitable, and occasionally indispensable, for diagnosis of poorly differentiated neoplastic tumours. Knowledge of the mechanism of action and normal reaction of individual proteins is required in selection of the antibody pattern for a given tissue and in evaluation of the obtained results. This paper aims to promote the application of immunohistochemical techniques in routine diagnosis, especially in cases of poorly differentiated or undifferentiated tumours.

Current biomarkers of canine mammary tumors

“…In veterinary medicine, the PCNA level is frequently evaluated in cases of mammary cancer [ 20 ]. PCNA expression in IHC staining (cells with nuclear staining were recorded as positive) also has a positive correlation with tumor size, tumor histological type, differentiation grade, nuclear grade, mitotic index, histological grade of malignancy, and lymph node metastasis [ 29 ].…”

“…β-catenin is a cytoplasmic protein that is degraded in the neoplastic process, which results in its accumulation in the cytoplasm and nucleus of tumor cells. Its expression is associated with tumor progression, metastases and a worse prognosis for the patient [ 20 ]. Normally, levels of β-catenin expression in blood are determined together with E-cadherin.…”

“…It has been shown that malignant CMT have significantly more blood vessel formation than benign tumors [ 59 ]. Common biomarkers of angiogenesis are vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and von Willebrand factor VIII or CD 31 [ 20 ]. VEGF is a protein, and its expression in tumors is responsible for angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, whereas EGFR is a tyrosine kinase receptor and acts as a promotor of cell migration and invasion [ 20 , 60 ].…”

“…Common biomarkers of angiogenesis are vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and von Willebrand factor VIII or CD 31 [ 20 ]. VEGF is a protein, and its expression in tumors is responsible for angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, whereas EGFR is a tyrosine kinase receptor and acts as a promotor of cell migration and invasion [ 20 , 60 ]. Von Willebrand factor VIII is a glycoprotein that participates in platelet adhesion and is expressed in both healthy and neoplastically transformed blood vessel endothelial cells and lymphatic vessels [ 20 ].…”

“…VEGF is a protein, and its expression in tumors is responsible for angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, whereas EGFR is a tyrosine kinase receptor and acts as a promotor of cell migration and invasion [ 20 , 60 ]. Von Willebrand factor VIII is a glycoprotein that participates in platelet adhesion and is expressed in both healthy and neoplastically transformed blood vessel endothelial cells and lymphatic vessels [ 20 ]. CD31, also called platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule, is a protein that plays a role in inflammatory processes and is expressed in vascular endothelium of arteries, veins and capillary blood vessels [ 20 ].…”