E-Cadherin Immunostaining in Equine Melanocytic Tumors.
Abstract: Melanocytic tumors are an important neoplastic disease in human and veterinary medicine, presenting large differences regarding tumor behavior between species. In horses, these tumors present a prolonged benign behavior, with rare invasiveness and metastases. In humans and small animals, invasion and metastasis have been associated with an Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, where the loss of E-cadherin expression plays a key role in tumor progression. This process and the role of E-cadherin have not yet been evaluated in equine melanocytic tumors. This study aimed to assess the immunolabeling of E-cadherin in equine melanocytic tumors and relate this with clinicopathological variables. A total of 72 equine melanocytic tumors were classified as benign and malignant and evaluated by immunohistochemistry for E-cadherin expression. A different pattern of immunostaining was found, contrasting with other species. A total of 69.4% of tumors presented raised immunolabeling of E-cadherin, with 70.7% of melanomas remaining with high expression. The typical loss of immunostaining was not seen in malignant melanomas and no differences were found between benign and malignant melanomas regarding E-cadherin immunostaining. The high immunolabeling of E-cadherin may contribute to the low invasiveness of these tumors, and it is in accordance with the benign behavior of equine melanoma and with the genetic factors associated with its development.
Publication Date: 2023-07-06 PubMed ID: 37444014PubMed Central: PMC10339947DOI: 10.3390/ani13132216Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article is a study on melanocytic tumors in horses, with focus on the role of E-cadherin in tumor progression. It explains why these tumors in horses bear different characteristics in comparison to humans and other species, presenting a generally benign behavior.
Objectives and Methodology
- The study aimed to examine the immunolabeling of E-Cadherin in equine melanocytic tumors and explore its correlation with clinicopathological factors.
- The researchers made use of immunohistochemistry to analyse the expression of E-Cadherin in a total of 72 equine melanocytic tumors, which were divided into benign and malignant types.
Main Findings
- The study uncovered an atypical immunostaining pattern in equine melanocytic tumors as compared to their counterparts in humans and other animals.
- The results showed that 69.4% of tumors exhibited heightened immunolabeling of E-cadherin, with about 70.7% of melanomas maintaining a high expression level.
Implications and Conclusions
- Contrary to expectations based on humans and other animals, a significant loss of immunostaining was not observed in malignant melanomas. There were also no noticeable differences between benign and malignant melanomas in terms of E-cadherin immunostaining.
- These findings suggest that the high levels of E-cadherin immunostaining may be a contributory factor to the low levels of tumor invasiveness typically observed in horses.
- This peculiar behavior syncs with the generally benign nature of equine melanoma and offers some understanding of the genetic factors influencing its development.
Cite This Article
APA
Pimenta J, Pires I, Prada J, Cotovio M.
(2023).
E-Cadherin Immunostaining in Equine Melanocytic Tumors.
Animals (Basel), 13(13).
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132216 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Sciences Department, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
- CECAV-Veterinary and Animal Research Center, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
- Veterinary Sciences Department, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
- CECAV-Veterinary and Animal Research Center, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
- Veterinary Sciences Department, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
- CECAV-Veterinary and Animal Research Center, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
- Veterinary Sciences Department, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
- CECAV-Veterinary and Animal Research Center, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
Grant Funding
- UIDP/00772/2020 and LA/P/0059/2020 / Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Shin JW, Kim Y, Lee SH, Lee SY, Lee JY, Kim CL, Park MR, Ko YG, Chung Y. Identification of TYR gene variants associated with white coat color in Hanwoo cattle using whole-genome sequencing. BMC Genomics 2026 Jan 5;27(1):128.
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