The proto-oncogene HER2 is frequently overexpressed in cat's breast tumors

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The proto-oncogene HER2 is frequently overexpressed in cat's breast tumors

Terça, 25.06.2013

A study group of Prof. Fernando Ferreira (photo, along with the first author, Maria João Soares), from the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon), identified the overexpression of the HER2 proto-oncogene in a significant number of mammary carcinomas in cat. This work goes to show the importance of these tumors in comparative oncology studies and was published in The Journal of Microscopy and Microanalysis (American Association of Microscopy).
 


Maria Soares (a), Jorge Correia (a), Pedro Rodrigues (b), Margarida Simões (a), Alves de Matos (b, c), Fernando Ferreira (a) (a) CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica,1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal (b) Escola Superior de Saúde Egas Moniz, Quinta da Granja, Monte da Caparica, 2829-511 Caparica, Portugal (c) Serviço de Anatomia Patológica, Hospital Curry Cabral, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, R. da Beneficiência,1069-166 Lisboa, Portugal


Feline HER2 Protein Expression Levels and Gene Status in Feline Mammary Carcinoma: Optimization of Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and In Situ Hybridization (ISH) Techniques. Human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) is a tumor biomarker that when overexpressed and/or amplified is associated with a poor prognosis for women with breast cancer. This specific tumor subtype is eligible for a specific immunotherapy that increases survival period. However, in feline oncology, only a few studies have been performed on molecular characterization of feline (fHER2) in feline mammary carcinoma (FMC), and the available data are inconsistent. In this study, fHER2 protein levels and gene status in FMC were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. After being optimized, these techniques revealed that fHER2 is overexpressed in 33% of FMC cases, although fHER2 and fTOP2A gene amplification could not be observed. Our results support the possibility of using FMC as a natural model for comparative oncology. Additional data obtained may also improve the diagnostics, and consequently the treatment, of this type of tumor in veterinary medicine.

Journal:

Microscopy and Microanalysis

http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1431927613001529