Morphologic and molecular analysis of 39 spontaneous feline pulmonary carcinomas

Vet Pathol. 2012 Nov;49(6):971-8. doi: 10.1177/0300985811419529. Epub 2011 Sep 7.

Abstract

The present study was performed to determine the morphologic change and selected molecular features of spontaneous lung tumors in cats examined at the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Thirty-nine primary lung carcinomas represented 0.69% of all feline cases admitted to the hospital. Most lung tumors were observed in aged cats (P < .0001), and no sex predilection was found (P < .4241). Persian cats with pulmonary carcinoma were overrepresented in the data set, at least 4 times more frequently than other breeds. The histologic tumor types included adenocarcinoma (64.1%), bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (20.5%), and adenosquamous carcinoma (15.4%). Metastasis was observed in about 80% of 39 cases, with decreasing order of intrapulmonary metastasis, intrathoracic carcinomatosis, regional lymph nodes, and distant organs, including digits. The size of the largest tumor mass was significantly associated with metastatic potential (P < .001). Based on immunohistochemistry, more than 80% (20 of 24) of feline lung tumors were positively labeled with either surfactant protein A or thyroid transcription factor 1. Epidermal growth factor receptor mutant and p53 proteins were detected in approximately 20% (5 of 24) and 25% (6 of 24) of the feline lung tumor cases, respectively. Limited sequencing analysis of K-ras and p53 genes in 3 selected normal and neoplastic lung tissues did not reveal any alteration. Results indicate that primary lung carcinomas are rare but aggressive tumors in cats, thereby warranting further studies on molecular carcinogenesis.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / veterinary*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / veterinary*
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / veterinary*
  • Cat Diseases / genetics
  • Cat Diseases / metabolism
  • Cat Diseases / pathology*
  • Cats
  • DNA, Neoplasm / chemistry
  • DNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
  • Incidence
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • North Carolina
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / genetics
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / veterinary
  • Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A
  • Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • ErbB Receptors