Correlation of fibroblast growth factor receptor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor and cyclooxygenase-2 expression with neoplastic cell proliferation and vascularization in feline vaccine-associated sarcomas

Abstract

Feline inoculation site-associated sarcomas are mesenchymal neoplasms that develop at sites of inoculation of substances. In this work, the immunohistochemical expression of fibroblast growth factors-2 and platelet-derived-B growth factors and their receptors was determined in feline sarcomas associated or not associated with inoculation sites. Both types of sarcomas expressed these growth factors and their receptors. In feline sarcomas associated with inoculation, cell proliferation positively correlated with vascularization and with the expression of both growth factors. In addition, fibroblasts growth factor correlated with the degree of anaplasia, whereas the number of vessels per field with COX-2. On the other hand, the degree of anaplasia was positively correlated with cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme. The carcinogenesis of different tumors is associated with the overexpression of these growth factors. Our results could justify the use of inhibitors of these receptors to reduce proliferation in this type of feline sarcoma; the degree of anaplasia could be of predictive value for sensitivity to tyrosine kinase or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors.