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Canine malignant melanoma ( CMM) is the most common canine oral tumour, and up to 70-75% of dogs in stage II-III die within 1 year after surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of platelet-derived growth factors receptors ( PDGFR)- α and - β in stage II and III CMMs and to correlate it with prognosis. PDGFRs expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry on 48 cases of formalin-fixed CMM samples and correlated with clinical-pathological findings and outcome after surgery. PDGFRs co-expression was observed in 37.5% of cases. Positivity for PDGFR- α and - β receptor was present in 54.2 and 47.9% of cases, respectively. Ki67 values >19.5% were ascertained in 66.7% of cases. Statistical analysis showed that PDGFRs co-expression and Ki67 values > 19.5% were both associated with worse prognosis. PDGFRs expression suggests a role in the pathogenesis and progression of CMM, and α and β co-expression appears to be associated to worse prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ki67 can discriminate between high- and low-grade canine lymphomas, but its prognostic role in specific subtypes of the neoplasm is unknown. We assessed the prognostic significance of Ki67% (percentage of Ki67-positive cells), evaluated by flow cytometry, in 40 dogs with high-grade B-cell lymphoma, treated with a modified Wisconsin-Madison protocol ( UW-25). The following variables were investigated for association with lymphoma specific survival ( LSS) and relapse free interval ( RFI): Ki67%, breed, sex, age, stage, substage, complete remission ( CR). By multivariate analysis, Ki67% ( P = 0.009) and achievement of CR ( P = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for LSS. Dogs with intermediate Ki67% (20.1-40%) presented longer LSS and RFI (median = 866 and 428 days, respectively) than dogs with low (median = 42 days, P < 0.001; median = 159 days, P = 0.014) or high (median = 173 days, P = 0.038; median = 100 days, P = 0.126) values. Determination of Ki67 is a prognostic tool that improves the clinical usefulness of flow cytometric analysis in canine high-grade B-cell lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this retrospective study was to describe clinical features, treatment and outcome of 21 dogs with metastatic cancer of unknown primary ( MCUP), a biopsy-proven malignancy being diagnosed at a metastatic stage, in which the anatomical origin of the primary tumour cannot be detected. All dogs underwent total-body computed tomography. Signalment, type and duration of clinical signs, metastasis site, pathology results, treatment and outcome were recorded. Carcinoma was the most common diagnosis (57.1%), followed by sarcoma, melanoma and mast cell tumour. The median number of disease sites per dog was 2, with bones, lymph nodes, lungs and spleen being the most frequent metastatic locations. The median survival for all dogs was 30 days. Overall, a primary site was not identified in 20 (95.2%) dogs. MCUP encompasses a variety of different pathologic entities and harbours a poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]