Canine circumanal gland tumors and epithelial – mesenchymal transition: an immunohistochemical study

Circumanal gland (CG) tumors are common neoplasms of older dogs. Of these, only circumanal carcinomas show clear metastatic potential, and even so metastases seem to be uncommon. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process that facilitates the initial steps metastasis, date it has not been systematically investigated in CG tumors. Insight into occurrence this would valuable asset understanding biology these To test EMT we used three immunohistochemical markers alter their expression process, namely – E-cadherin, N-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Additionally, Ki-67 marker proliferation. The samples consisted 15 adenomas, 11 epitheliomas, 21 well-differentiated carcinomas, seven poorly differentiated ten normal CG. results N-cadherin were negative for all samples. E-cadherin was highly expressed groups, but slightly lower semi-malignant malignant tumors; MMP-9 marking generally very low, significantly higher or when compared benign non-neoplastic index proliferation (Ki-67) These with an increase histologic malignancy there slight drop rise MMP-9, significant Ki-67. Therefore, suggest possibility occurs within forms tumors, probably as rare late event. Further studies needed prove disprove statements.