Tn and Sialyl‐Tn antigens in canine gastric tissues

Abstract

Malignant transformation is often associated with abnormal protein glycosylation expressed, amongst others, by the accumulation of simple mucin-type carbohydrates namely Tn and Sialyl-Tn (STn) antigens. These are usually limited in normal tissues and their increased expression has been associated with cancer progression and poor prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the role of Tn and STn antigens in the neoplastic transformation of the canine gastric mucosa and to correlate their putative immunoexpression alterations with some pathological features. Tn and STn antigens expression were immunohistochemically evaluated in canine normal gastric mucosa (n = 3), gastric polyps (n = 9) and gastric carcinomas (n = 25), neoplastic emboli (n = 12) and metastases (n = 8). In normal gastric mucosa, Tn antigen was detected in the gastric epithelial cells, while STn antigen was absent. Similarly, all gastric polyps expressed Tn antigen, but none displayed STn antigen immunostaining. In carcinomas, Tn antigen was expressed in 96% of the cases and STn antigen in 68% of the neoplasms. STn antigen was significantly higher in carcinomas compared with normal mucosa (P < .05). No correlation was found between each antigen and the different subtypes of tumours according to WHO classification, tumour differentiation, lymph vascular invasion or metastasis. All neoplastic emboli expressed both antigens, and the expression score was similar or higher than that displayed by the neoplastic cells of the primary tumour. The high prevalence of STn antigen in gastric carcinomas compared with normal mucosa highlights the cancer-associated nature of this antigen. Our results link STn antigen expression to neoplastic transformation and suggest that it may be a useful marker of gastric cancer progression in dogs.

Immunoexpression of Trefoil Factor 1 in Non-Neoplastic and Neoplastic Canine Gastric Tissues

“…In the present study, the expression of TFF1 in GPs was also consistently observed in all cases, displaying an immunopattern analogous to that of normal canine gastric mucosa. Our findings are in accordance with human studies and reinforce our previous investigations [10,16] in which canine GPs are considered merely proliferative lesions, at least phenotypically very similar to normal canine gastric epithelium.…”

“…Despite its usefulness in the recognition of the morphological patterns, WHO classification schemes offer little prognostic significance [4,6]. In turn, the human Lauren classification may more accurately predict prognosis based on histopathological features and has been successfully adapted to the dog [7][8][9][10].…”

“…According to the current veterinary literature, there are no validated pre-neoplastic lesions of GC, although atrophic gastritis, a type of giant hypertrophic gastropathy or Ménétrier's disease, and intestinal metaplasia (IM) have been recognized in dogs and associated with possible predisposition to gastric cancer development [2,[13][14][15]. As in humans, GPs are incidental findings in dogs; however, previous studies conducted by our group suggest that canine GPs are proliferative and hyperplastic lesions with lack of features suggestive of neoplastic transformation [10,16].…”

Association Between Recalled Exposure to Gender Identity Conversion Efforts and Psychological Distress and Suicide Attempts Among Transgender Adults

“…Transgender persons are those whose sex assigned at birth differs from their gender identity, the inner sense of their own gender . According to a study by the Williams Institute, approximately 1.4 million (0.6%) adults in the United States identify as transgender.…”

“…Transgender persons are those whose sex assigned at birth differs from their gender identity, the inner sense of their own gender . According to a study by the Williams Institute, approximately 1.4 million (0.6%) adults in the United States identify as transgender. Transgender persons in the United States experience a disproportionately high prevalence of adverse mental health outcomes, including a 41% lifetime prevalence of self-reported suicide attempts …”