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Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is characterised by invasive and metastatic behaviour and is poorly responsive to current treatments, hence the need for new therapeutic strategies. FOSCC shares molecular targets with human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), among these the epidermal growth factor receptor. Cetuximab is an anti‐epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody employed in the therapy of HNSCC and, interestingly, previous work in vitro suggested that it displays cytostatic and cytotoxic properties also against FOSCC. With the present study, we aimed at further investigating the effects of cetuximab on invasion and metastasis pathways proven to be relevant in human patients. To this purpose, FOSCC cell lines SCCF1, SCCF2 and SCCF3 were treated with cetuximab for 48/72 h and subjected to Western blot for matrix metalloproteinases‐2/9 (MMP‐2/9) and epithelial–mesenchymal transition markers vimentin, E‐, P‐ and N‐cadherin. Treatment with cetuximab resulted in downregulation of MMP‐2/‐9 in all of the three cell lines in a dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, cetuximab downregulated vimentin and P‐cadherin in SCCF1, upregulated E‐cadherin whilst downregulating P‐/N‐cadherins in SCCF2, and impaired P‐/N‐cadherins in SCCF3. An in vitro scratch test also demonstrated that cetuximab delayed cell migration in SCCF3. These data suggest that cetuximab mitigates invasion and metastasis processes by impairing MMPs and epithelial–mesenchymal transition pathways in FOSCC, indicating that this monoclonal antibody may help to counteract malignant progression and improve the management of locally invasive disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papillomavirus (PV) infection is associated with development of epithelial cancer in different species, including domestic cat (Felis catus). Felis catus PV type‐2 (FcaPV‐2) is considered the causative agent of a proportion of feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), through the transforming properties of its E6 and E7 oncogenes. However, the possible role of FcaPVs in the aetiology of feline oral SCC (FOSCC) is still unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the presence and gene expression of FcaPV‐2 in FOSCC samples. We detected FcaPV‐2 DNA in 10/32 (31%) of the analysed FOSCC by the use of PCR methods. Importantly, viral mRNA was detected by RT‐PCR in 7/10 (70%) of DNA positive samples. In particular, FcaPV‐2 L1, E2 and E6E7 genes were found to be expressed in 5/10 (50%), 3/10 (33%) and 5/10 (50%) samples, respectively. Viral DNA was also detected in non neoplastic oral ulcerative lesions (ULs) (4/11, 36%); qPCR suggested a difference in viral load between ULs and FOSCCs, particularly in those expressing E6E7, although it was not statistically significant. These data suggest, but do not definively prove, a possible role of FcaPV‐2 in the development of a proportion of FOSCC. Moreover, L1 and E2 gene expression results indicate that FcaPV‐2 infection associated with these tumours may possibly be productive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that factors acting on the decrease of population of honeybees, can act on the male and female reproductive system, compromising the fertility of queens and drones. While there are many studies on female fertility, only a few studies have focused on male fertility and the possible alterations of the reproductive system. The testes of 25 samples of adult drones of Apis mellifera ligustica were analyzed by histopathology using an innovative histological processing technique and the alterations that were found are here described. Most of the samples showed unaltered testes but, in some cases, samples showed degenerated seminiferous tubules, while others appeared immature. Although a limited number of samples were analyzed, the results obtained displayed that histopathological alterations of the testes exist also in honeybees and that more interest should be put to the matter, as honeybees could be considered as bioindicators for endocrine disruptors. Future studies on a larger number of samples are necessary to analyze how different environmental factors can act and induce alterations in the honeybee reproductive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]