An immunohistochemical study of feline endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Abstract

Feline endometrial adenocarcinomas are uncommon malignant neoplasms that have to date been poorly characterized. The present immunohistochemical study describes the expression of the pancytokeratins AE1 and AE3, cytokeratin-14, vimentin, alpha-actin, cyclo-oxygenase-2, E-cadherin, beta-catenin, the progesterone receptor, the oestrogen receptor and caveolin-1 within normal feline uterine tissue and tissue from six cats with endometrial adenocarcinoma. Synthesis of cyclo-oxygenase-2 and reduced expression of progesterone receptors may be involved in the neoplastic transformation of feline endometrium. The loss of cellular adhesion that occurs within these tumours does not require down-regulation of E-cadherin expression and nuclear translocation of beta-catenin is not a feature of these neoplasms.