Epidermal growth factor receptor expression in canine transitional cell carcinoma

Abstract

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), a urinary bladder tumor with high mortality, is encountered commonly in dogs. Whereas overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with development of human urinary bladder cancer, information on EGFR expression in canine TCC is lacking. In this study, EGFR protein and mRNA expression in canine normal bladder (n=5), polypoid cystitis (n=5) and TCC (n=25) were examined by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction. EGFR protein expression was significantly higher in TCC than that in normal healthy bladder (P<0.001) and polypoid cystitis (P<0.005). High EGFR protein expression was significantly (P<0.01) associated with TCC with a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 100%. Comparative analysis of protein and mRNA expression levels in TCC showed significant positive correlation (r=0.88, P<0.05) between mRNA and protein expression. These findings suggest that intense expression of EGFR protein could be used as a marker to help canine TCC diagnosis.

EGF Level in Hepatoid Gland Adenomas and Hepatoid Gland Epitheliomas in Dogs After Administering Tamoxifen

“…A statistically significant increase in the EGF level was also observed after the treatment in four dogs with HGE. Our results are similar to other studies (36,38,39) and seem to confirm that EGF plays an important role in tumour development, and that its overexpression correlates with the incidence of tumour relapse in dogs. Thus, EGF can be treated as another prognostic factor.…”

“…Overexpression of EGF was detected in these cells (37). It is also a neoplastic marker in canine transitional cell carcinoma -TCC (38). In a study on the EGF level in the serum of patients suffering from unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, a significantly elevated EGF level (784.49 pg/ml) was observed when compared with healthy patients (297.15 pg/ml) or other patients suffering from non-cancerous liver diseases (338.64 pg/ml).…”

Anti‐tumour effect of lapatinib in canine transitional cell carcinoma cell lines

“…Lapatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor belonging to the 4-anilinoquinazoline class that targets the kinase domain of both HER2 and EGFR. 13,14 Because HER2 and EGFR protein overexpression was observed in more than half of dogs with TCC, 17,20 we aimed to evaluate the potential anti-tumour effects of lapatinib on canine TCC cell lines in this study. Our results showed that lapatinib inhibited growth activity in these cells.…”

“…Alternatively, small‐molecule drugs often cross‐react with various species . As EGFR protein overexpression is also observed in 72% of canine TCC, the HER2 and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib may be effective in canine TCC.…”

Dual targeting of EGFR and ERBB2 pathways produces a synergistic effect on cancer cell proliferation and migration in vitro

“…In canine cancers EGFR overexpression has been reported in canine mammary tumours (CMT), transitional cell carcinomas, medullary thyroid cancer, and gastric epithelial tumours . Gama and colleagues reported EGFR expression to be significantly associated with malignancy but could only report a trend towards reduced disease‐free and overall survival.…”