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Abstract Background Information regarding the therapeutic effect and outcome of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for hepatic masses is limited in veterinary medicine. Hypothesis/Objectives To analyze the therapeutic response, outcome (overall survival), and their predictors in dogs that underwent TAE for primary hepatocellular masses. We hypothesized that larger pre‐TAE tumors would be associated with worse outcomes. Animals Fourteen client‐owned dogs. Methods Retrospective study. Medical records between 1 September 2016 and 30 April 2022 were reviewed to identify dogs treated with TAE for hepatic masses diagnosed as hepatocellular origin by cytological or histopathological examination. Computed tomography images were compared before and after TAE. The univariate Cox proportional hazards test was performed to assess the associations between variables and survival. Univariate linear regression analysis was performed to assess the associations between variables and the tumor reduction percentage: ([post‐TAE volume − pre‐TAE volume]/pre‐TAE volume) × 100. Results The median survival time was 419 days (95% confidence interval, 82‐474). History of intra‐abdominal hemorrhage (P = .03) and pre‐TAE tumor volume/body weight (P = .009) were significantly associated with overall survival. The mean reduction percentage was −51% ± 40%. Pre‐TAE tumor volume/body weight ratio (cm3/kg; P = .02, correlation coefficient = 0.704) was significantly correlated with the volume reduction percentage. Conclusions History of intra‐abdominal hemorrhage and large pre‐TAE tumor volume/body weight ratio could be predictive factors for adverse outcomes after TAE. Pre‐TAE tumor volume/body weight ratio could be a predictive factor for therapeutic effect.

Abstract A 16‐year‐old intact female Miniature Dachshund (dog 1) and a 13‐year‐old intact female American Cocker Spaniel (dog 2) presented with a chief complaint of bleeding from a mammary gland tumour ulceration. Dog 1 was transferred to hospital from a local hospital in a haemorrhagic shock state with uncontrolled continuous bleeding. Thoracic radiographs revealed multiple nodular shadows suspected to be pulmonary metastasis. Dog 2 presented with intermittent bleeding from a mass lesion in the right fifth mammary gland. Due to high anaesthetic risk secondary to severe mitral valve insufficiency (ASA status III), the owner declined surgical excision of the tumour. Therefore, microwave ablation (MWA) under local anaesthesia was chosen in order to achieve adequate haemostasis. Both dogs received local anaesthesia around the bleeding mass lesion, and the disintegrated site was microwave‐ablated; dog 1 underwent MWA after blood transfusion to improve the haemorrhagic shock. The ablation site was protected using a non‐adhesive dressing. Scarring of the ulcerated site led to complete haemostasis in both cases. Dog 1 underwent tumorectomy on the 31st hospital day to prevent rebleeding; histopathology results were consistent with mammary adenocarcinoma with the ablation site covered by a capsule structure. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case report describing the use of MWA to stop bleeding from mammary tumours in veterinary medicine. MWA is a feasible and potentially effective palliative treatment modality to stop bleeding from disintegrated mammary tumours in dogs under local anaesthesia.

Transcriptional factors, such as Snail, Slug, and Smuc, that cause epithelial-mesenchymal transition are thought to regulate the expression of Ezrin, Radixin, and Moesin (ERM proteins), which serve as anchors for efflux transporters on the plasma membrane surface. Our previous results using lung cancer clinical samples indicated a correlation between Slug and efflux transporter MRP2. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the relationships between MRP2, ERM proteins, and Slug in lung cancer cells. HCC827 cells were transfected by Mock and Slug plasmid. Both mRNA expression levels and protein expression levels were measured. Then, the activity of MRP2 was evaluated using CDCF and SN-38 (MRP2 substrates). HCC827 cells transfected with the Slug plasmid showed significantly higher mRNA expression levels of MRP2 than the Mock-transfected cells. However, the mRNA expression levels of ERM proteins did not show a significant difference between Slug-transfected cells and Mock-transfected cells. Protein expression of MRP2 was increased in Slug-transfected cells. The uptake of both CDCF and SN-38 was significantly decreased after transfection with Slug. This change was abrogated by treatment with MK571, an MRP2 inhibitor. The viability of Slug-transfected cells, compared to Mock cells, significantly increased after incubation with SN-38. Thus, Slug may increase the mRNA and protein expression of MRP2 without regulation by ERM proteins in HCC827 cells, thereby enhancing MRP2 activity. Inhibition of Slug may reduce the efficacy of multidrug resistance in lung cancer.