VEGF Expression, Cellular Infiltration, and Intratumoral Collagen Levels after Electroporation-Based Treatment of Dogs with Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Andrigo Barboza De Nardi,Carlos Eduardo Fonseca-Alves,Denner Dos Anjos,Cynthia Bueno,Ewaldo Mattos-Junior

doi:10.3390/life11121321

Abstract

Canine cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common type of skin cancer in tropical countries and is generally associated with exposure to solar ultraviolet light. It has a low metastatic rate, and local treatments, such as electrochemotherapy (ECT), promote long-term control or even complete remission. This study aimed to evaluate pre- and post-ECT treatment expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD31, cellular infiltration, and intratumoral collagen levels in dogs with cutaneous SCC. A prospective nonrandomized clinical study was performed using dogs with spontaneous SCC treated with ECT. Eighteen lesions from 11 dogs were included in the study. The expression levels of VEGF and CD31; cellular infiltration; and intratumoral collagen levels, as determined by Masson’s trichrome staining, were not significantly different from pre-treatment measurements on day 21 (p > 0.05). However, among cellular infiltration, the mixed subtype was correlated with better overall survival time when compared to lymphoplasmacytic and neutrophilic infiltration (p < 0.05). In conclusion, ECT had no effect on VEGF expression, cellular infiltration, or intratumoral collagen levels in dogs with cutaneous SCC at the time of evaluation, suggesting that early and late post-ECT-treatment phases should be considered.

Highlights

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant epidermal keratinocyte tumor of the skin [1]
Its prevalence depends on geographic location. It is the most common type of skin cancer in tropical countries and is generally associated with solar ultraviolet light exposure levels ranging from 6.0% to 44.9% [2,3,4]
Previous studies have shown that actinic keratosis is an SCC precursor lesion; these lesions are common in humans and animals [10,11,12]

Summary

Introduction

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant epidermal keratinocyte tumor of the skin [1]. It is the most common type of skin cancer in tropical countries and is generally associated with solar ultraviolet light exposure levels ranging from 6.0% to 44.9% [2,3,4]. In addition to chronic sun exposure, a lack of pigment within the epidermis and sparse hair coverage are risk factors for SCC development [5]. In both humans and animals, the prevalence of this tumor subtype increases with age, and there is no gender or racial predilection [6,7,8,9]. Previous studies have shown that actinic keratosis is an SCC precursor lesion; these lesions are common in humans and animals [10,11,12]

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