Vascular endothelial growth factor expression and microvascular density in soft tissue sarcomas in dogs

• Published in: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 105 - 108
• Main Authors: de Queiroz, Genilson Fernandes, Dagli, Maria Lucia Zaidan, Fukumasu, Heidge, Zavala, Arturo Alejandro Zavala, Matera, Julia Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA J Vet Diagn Invest 01-01-2010; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Animals; Dog Diseases - metabolism; Dog Diseases - pathology; Dogs; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - physiology; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Sarcoma - blood supply; Sarcoma - metabolism; Sarcoma - pathology; Sarcoma - veterinary; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - blood supply; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - metabolism; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - pathology; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - veterinary; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; Angiogenesis; immunohistochemistry; vascular endothelial growth factor; neoplasia
• ISSN: 1040-6387; 1943-4936
• DOI: 10.1177/104063871002200121

Correspondence: 1 Corresponding Author: Julia Maria Matera, Av. Prof. Orlando M. de Paiva, 87, Departamento de Clínica Cirúrgica, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05508-000, e-mail: materajm{at}usp.br
The aim of the current study was to evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the microvascular density in canine soft-tissue sarcomas. Immunohistochemistry for VEGF expression was performed on 20 canine neoplasms by the streptavidin–biotin–peroxidase method using an anti-VEGF mouse monoclonal antibody (ab-119). The volume fraction of microvessels in the sarcomas was quantified in hematoxylin and eosin–stained tissue sections. At least 10 fields of view (40 x magnification) per neoplasm were analyzed by positioning a grid with 100 points and counting the microvessels that fell into the intersection points. This percentage was considered the volume fraction of these microvessels in the tumor section. VEGF expression was detected in 65% of the neoplasms. In 92.3% of the neoplasms, the expression occurred in the peritumor region; in 46.15%, in the intratumor region; and in 38.46%, the expression was present in both regions. The cells responsible for VEGF expression were fibroblasts and macrophages in the peritumor region or in the pseudocapsule and neoplastic cells in the intratumor region. Greater intratumoral VEGF was expressed in hemangiopericytomas ( P = 0.04). No difference was present in the volume fraction of tumor microvessels between VEGF-positive and VEGF-negative neoplasms ( P = 0.3416) or for the different types of neoplasms ( P = 0.5). The results of this study suggest that VEGF participates in the angiogenesis of soft-tissue sarcoma in dogs. Additional research will be necessary to elucidate the contribution of VEGF to the progression of malignancy.
Key Words: Angiogenesis • immunohistochemistry • neoplasia • vascular endothelial growth factor