Project description:[original title] Metastatic Canine Mammary Carcinomas can be Identified by a Gene Expression Profile that partly Overlaps with Human Breast Cancer Profiles. Introduction: Similar to human breast cancer mammary tumors of the female dog are commonly associated with a fatal outcome due to the development of distant metastases. However, the molecular defects leading to metastasis are largely unknown and the value of canine mammary carcinoma as a model for human breast cancer is unclear. In this study, we analyzed the gene expression signatures associated with mammary tumor metastasis and asked for parallels with the human equivalent. Methods: Messenger RNA expression profiles of twenty-seven lymph node metastasis positive or negative canine mammary carcinomas were established by microarray analysis. Differentially expressed genes were functionally characterized and associated with molecular pathways. The findings were also correlated with published data on human breast cancer. Results: Metastatic canine mammary carcinomas had 1,011 significantly differentially expressed genes when compared to non-metastatic carcinomas. Metastatic carcinomas had a significant up-regulation of genes associated with cell cycle regulation, matrix modulation, protein folding and proteasomal degradation whereas cell differentiation genes, growth factor pathway genes and regulators of actin organization were significantly down-regulated. Interestingly, 265 of the 1,011 differentially expressed canine genes are also related to human breast cancer and, vice versa, parts of a human prognostic gene signature were identified in the expression profiles of the metastatic canine tumors. Conclusions: Metastatic canine mammary carcinomas can be discriminated from non-metastatic carcinomas by their gene expression profiles. More than one third of the differentially expressed genes are also described of relevance for human breast cancer. Many of the differentially expressed genes are linked to functions and pathways which appear to be relevant for the induction and maintenance of metastatic progression and may represent new therapeutic targets. Furthermore, dogs are in some aspects suitable as a translational model for human breast tumors in order to identify prognostic molecular signatures and potential therapeutic targets.

Project description:[original title] Metastatic Canine Mammary Carcinomas can be Identified by a Gene Expression Profile that partly Overlaps with Human Breast Cancer Profiles. Introduction: Similar to human breast cancer mammary tumors of the female dog are commonly associated with a fatal outcome due to the development of distant metastases. However, the molecular defects leading to metastasis are largely unknown and the value of canine mammary carcinoma as a model for human breast cancer is unclear. In this study, we analyzed the gene expression signatures associated with mammary tumor metastasis and asked for parallels with the human equivalent. Methods: Messenger RNA expression profiles of twenty-seven lymph node metastasis positive or negative canine mammary carcinomas were established by microarray analysis. Differentially expressed genes were functionally characterized and associated with molecular pathways. The findings were also correlated with published data on human breast cancer. Results: Metastatic canine mammary carcinomas had 1,011 significantly differentially expressed genes when compared to non-metastatic carcinomas. Metastatic carcinomas had a significant up-regulation of genes associated with cell cycle regulation, matrix modulation, protein folding and proteasomal degradation whereas cell differentiation genes, growth factor pathway genes and regulators of actin organization were significantly down-regulated. Interestingly, 265 of the 1,011 differentially expressed canine genes are also related to human breast cancer and, vice versa, parts of a human prognostic gene signature were identified in the expression profiles of the metastatic canine tumors. Conclusions: Metastatic canine mammary carcinomas can be discriminated from non-metastatic carcinomas by their gene expression profiles. More than one third of the differentially expressed genes are also described of relevance for human breast cancer. Many of the differentially expressed genes are linked to functions and pathways which appear to be relevant for the induction and maintenance of metastatic progression and may represent new therapeutic targets. Furthermore, dogs are in some aspects suitable as a translational model for human breast tumors in order to identify prognostic molecular signatures and potential therapeutic targets. Thirteen simple mammary carcinomas with invasive growth and lymph node metastases at the time of tumor resection and 14 simple carcinomas without lymph node metastases were included in the study. None of the patients had radiographically detectable pulmonary metastases at the time of tumor resection. Distant metastases as the cause of death were determined postoperatively by radiographic detection of metastases or necropsy. Selection criteria for carcinomas without lymph node metastases included an invasive growth, a negative lymph node status, a histological grade III and a minimal tumor diameter above the average of the lymph node positive tumors (> 2.42 cm). All animals with non-metastatic carcinomas had a survival rate of over 24 months except animal no. 22 (2627) which developed radiographic detectable lung metastases 8 months after surgery. Tumor and lymph node histologies were evaluated independently by two board-certified pathologists, following the criteria of the WHO classification of canine mammary tumors and the Nottingham grading system. All 27 tumors were simple carcinomas and characterized by an invasive, mostly solid growth pattern, marked cellular pleomorphism, anisokaryosis and 3 or more mitotic figures per high power field.

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MiRNA expression profiles of canine mammary cancer cells and macrophages grown in co-culture conditions

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