VEGF and MMP‐9: biomarkers for canine lymphoma

• Published in: Veterinary & comparative oncology Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 29 - 36
• Main Authors: Aresu, L, Aricò, A, Comazzi, S, Gelain, M. E, Riondato, F, Mortarino, M, Morello, E, Stefanello, D, Castagnaro, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-03-2014
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor; canine lymphoma; chemotherapy; cytokines; Cytokines - genetics; Dog Diseases - drug therapy; Dog Diseases - metabolism; Dogs; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; gelatin; lymphoma; Lymphoma - blood; Lymphoma - diagnosis; Lymphoma - drug therapy; Lymphoma - pathology; Lymphoma - veterinary; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - blood; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - genetics; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - metabolism; MMP-9; prognosis; transforming growth factor beta; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - blood; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; vascular endothelial growth factors; VEGF; MMP-9; prognosis; VEGF; canine lymphoma
• ISSN: 1476-5810; 1476-5829
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5829.2012.00328.x

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 are useful biomarkers in human lymphoma. During cancerogenesis, transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) stimulates VEGF and MMPs production. VEGF and TGF‐β plasma levels were tested by ELISA, MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 by gelatine zymography in 37 dogs with lymphoma, 13 of which were also monitored during chemotherapy. Ten healthy dogs served as control. Lymphoma dogs showed higher act‐MMP‐9 (P < 0.01) and VEGF (P < 0.05), and lower TGF‐β than controls, and a positive correlation between act‐MMP‐9 and VEGF (P < 0.001). Act‐MMP‐9 and VEGF were significantly higher in T‐cell lymphomas, and in stage V compared with stages III–IV disease, regardless of immunophenotype. VEGF was higher in high‐grade compared with low‐grade T‐cell lymphomas. No correlation was found between cytokines levels at presentation and outcome. During chemotherapy, act‐MMP‐9 and VEGF decreased in B‐cell lymphomas (P < 0.01), suggesting a possible predictive role in this group of dogs.