Serum vascular endothelial growth factor in dogs with soft tissue sarcomas

Immunostaining for VEGF and Decorin Predicts Poor Survival and Recurrence in Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma

The aim of this study was to investigate whether using immunohistochemistry to detect the angiogenic proteins vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and decorin can help predict the risk of local recurrence of, or death from, canine soft tissue sarcoma (STS). VEGF and decorin were detected using validated immunohistochemical methods on 100 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of canine STS. The tumours had been resected previously, with clinical outcome determined by questionnaire. Each slide was assessed by light microscopy and the pattern of immunostaining with VEGF and decorin determined. Patterns of immunostaining were then analysed to detect associations with outcome measures of local recurrence and tumour-related death. High VEGF immunostaining was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with both increased local recurrence and reduced survival time. The distribution of decorin immunostaining within the tumour was significantly associated with survival time (p = 0.04) and local tumour recurrence (p = 0.02). When VEGF and decorin scores were combined, STS with both high VEGF and low decorin immunostaining were more likely to recur or cause patient death (p < 0.001). The results of this study suggest that immunostaining of VEGF and decorin may help predict the risk of local recurrence of canine STS.

Evaluation of VEGF-A and CCL2 in dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome or canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and in normocephalic dogs

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) and canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF) of West Highland White Terriers (WHWTs) often cause intermittent or chronic hypoxemia. Our objective was to evaluate serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) concentrations of hypoxemia-related proinflammatory mediators vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and chemokine (CC motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) in brachycephalic dogs (BDs) and WHWTs with and without CIPF. Additionally, effects of BOAS severity and ageing on these mediators were assessed. 114 BDs (28 English Bulldogs (EBs), 37 French Bulldogs, 49 Pugs), 16 WHWTs with CIPF, 26 healthy WHWTs, and 39 normocephalic control dogs were included. Fifty-four BDs were re-examined after two to three years. Bead-based immunoassay was used for proinflammatory mediator measurements. Compared with controls, significantly higher serum concentrations of VEGF-A were seen in EBs (P = 0.009) and of CCL2 in CIPF and healthy WHWTs (P < 0.001; P = 0.002). BALF samples were available from controls, EBs, and WHWTs. VEGF-A was significantly lower in EBs (P < 0.001) and in CIPF and healthy WHWTs (P = 0.006; P = 0.007) and CCL2 was higher in CIPF WHWTs (P = 0.01) compared with controls. Between visits, only serum VEGF-A significantly decreased in BDs (P < 0.001), but breed, BOAS severity, or its change had no significant effect. In conclusion, in EBs with BOAS proinflammatory changes in VEGF-A were detected in both serum and BALF. Ageing reduced serum VEGF-A in BDs. In WHWTs, our results confirmed earlier findings of CCL2 as an important biomarker for CIPF.

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor in dogs with various proliferative diseases

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the proliferation and metastasis mechanisms of malignant tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a group of cytokines that contribute to angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the serum VEGF-A concentrations in dogs with various proliferative diseases. A total of 202 dogs that were histopathologically diagnosed with proliferative diseases were included in the study. Serum VEGF-A concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Median serum VEGF-A concentrations in dogs were as follows: healthy dogs, 4 pg/ml [0–21 pg/ml]; hepatocellular carcinoma, 30 pg/ml [0–158 pg/ml, P=<0.001]; hepatocellular adenoma, 32 pg/ml [0–49 pg/ml, P=0.003]; hepatic nodular hyperplasia, 18 pg/ml [0–51 pg/ml, P=0.595]; adrenal pheochromocytoma, 32 pg/ml [0–187 pg/ml, P=<0.001]; adrenocortical carcinoma, 32 pg/ml [3–161 pg/ml, P=0.002]; adrenocortical adenoma, 27 pg/ml [0–106 pg/ml, P=0.005]; colorectal adenocarcinoma, 36 pg/ml [0–75 pg/ml, P=0.002]; colorectal adenoma, 43 pg/ml [0–48 pg/ml, P=0.144]; inflammatory colorectal polyps, 37 pg/ml [0–111 pg/ml, P=<0.001]; pulmonary adenocarcinoma, 35 pg/ml [4–107 pg/ml, P=0.002]; pulmonary histiocytic sarcoma, 35 pg/ml [0–131 pg/ml, P=0.016]; and follicular thyroid carcinoma, 35 pg/ml [0–106 pg/ml, P=0.009]. The serum VEGF-A concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with neoplastic lesions compared to healthy dogs, except for colorectal adenoma. High serum VEGF-A concentrations were observed in dogs with proliferative diseases. The present study suggests that angiogenesis-inhibiting therapy, which targets VEGF-A, may be useful for canine neoplastic diseases.

Vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of dogs with neoplastic or inflammatory central nervous system disorders

Background

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key molecular driver of angiogenesis and vascular permeability and is expressed by a wide variety of neoplasms. Although blood VEGF concentrations have been quantified in intracranial tumors of dogs, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) VEGF concentration might be a more sensitive biomarker of disease.

Objective

Concentrations of VEGF in CSF are higher in dogs with central nervous system (CNS) neoplasia compared to those with meningoencephalomyelitis and other neurologic disorders.

Animals

One hundred and twenty‐six client‐owned dogs presented to a veterinary teaching hospital.

Methods

Case‐control study. Cerebrospinal fluid was archived from dogs diagnosed with CNS neoplasia and meningoencephalomyelitis. Control dogs had other neurological disorders or diseases outside of the CNS. A commercially available kit was used to determine VEGF concentrations.

Results

Detectable CSF VEGF concentrations were present in 49/63 (77.8%) neoplastic samples, 22/24 (91.7%) inflammatory samples, and 8/39 (20.5%) control samples. The VEGF concentrations were significantly different between groups (P < .0001), and multiple comparison testing showed that both neoplastic and inflammatory groups had significantly higher concentrations than did controls (P < .05), but did not differ from each other. Gliomas and choroid plexus tumors had significantly higher VEGF concentrations than did the control group (P < .05).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Cerebrospinal fluid VEGF concentrations may serve as a marker of neoplastic and inflammatory CNS disorders relative to other conditions.

Noninvasive evaluation of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) protein concentrations in the stratum corneum and serum of healthy and atopic dogs

BACKGROUND

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a cytokine involved primarily in angiogenesis. In human atopic dermatitis (AD), VEGF has been detected in the stratum corneum and blood.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate VEGF-A expression in the serum and stratum corneum of healthy and atopic dogs, and its possible correlation with disease severity in atopic dogs.

ANIMAL

Fifteen atopic and 15 healthy, privately owned dogs.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The severity of clinical signs associated with AD was evaluated with the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-04). For all dogs, a single blood sample was performed and serum collected. Tape stripping (15 times) was performed on the left periocular area (lesional skin). A commercially available canine-specific VEGF-A enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed with all samples.

RESULTS

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A was undetectable in the serum. In the stratum corneum, there was no significant difference in VEGF-A concentrations between healthy (mean 89.4 ± 59.5 pg/ml) and atopic dogs (mean 100.3 ± 77.1pg/ml) (P = 0.71). There was no correlation between stratum corneum VEGF-A concentrations and CADESI-04 scores.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

The role of VEGF in canine AD is unclear. Because of many variants, VEGF-C and VEGF-D or VEGF-A isotopes should be explored in the skin to better evaluate the role of VEGF in canine atopy. Full-thickness skin biopsy, molecular biology and histopathological investigation may be necessary to further assess cutaneous VEGF expression.

Growth Factors and COX2 Expression in Canine Perivascular Wall Tumors

Canine perivascular wall tumors (PWTs) are a group of subcutaneous soft tissue sarcomas developing from vascular mural cells. Mural cells are involved in angiogenesis through a complex crosstalk with endothelial cells mediated by several growth factors and their receptors. The evaluation of their expression may have relevance since they may represent a therapeutic target in the control of canine PWTs. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and receptors VEGFR-I/II, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and receptor Flg, platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB) and receptor PDGFRβ, transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and receptors TGFβR-I/II, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) was evaluated on frozen sections of 40 PWTs by immunohistochemistry and semiquantitatively scored to identify their potential role in PWT development. Statistical analysis was performed to analyze possible correlations between Ki67 labeling index and the expression of each molecule. Proteins of the VEGF-, PDGFB-, and bFGF-mediated pathways were highly expressed in 27 (67.5%), 30 (75%), and 19 (47.5%) of 40 PWTs, respectively. Proteins of the TGFβ1- and COX2-mediated pathways were highly expressed in 4 (10%) and 14 (35%) of 40 cases. Statistical analysis identified an association between VEGF and VEGFR-I/II (P = .015 and .003, respectively), bFGF and Flg (P = .038), bFGF and PDGFRβ (P = .003), and between TGFβ1 and COX2 (P = .006). These findings were consistent with the mechanisms that have been reported to play a role in angiogenesis and in tumor development. No association with Ki67 labeling index was found. VEGF-, PDGFB-, and bFGF-mediated pathways seem to have a key role in PWT development and growth. Blockade of tyrosine kinase receptors after surgery could represent a promising therapy with the aim to reduce the PWT relapse rate and prolong the time to relapse.