Immunohistochemical expression of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) in canine brain tumors

Abstract

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are major promising targets in anticancer therapy in human and veterinary medicine. Using immunohistochemistry method, we evaluated the expressionof five types RTK (PDGFR-α, PDGFR-β, VEGFR 2, c-Kit and Abl) in the six canine brain tumor samples (2 meningioma, 2 astrocytoma, 1 ependymoma and 1 choroid plexus papilloma). A total of five samples expressed PDGFR-β (5/6), one sample, the choroid plexus papilloma, expressed c-Kit (1/6), and a total of two samples expressed Abl (2/6). None of the samples showed expression of PDGFR-α and VEGFR 2. We demonstrate that a significant portion of canine brain tumors express tyrosine receptors for growth factors and show that these receptors generally localize to tumor cell membranes and the cytoplasm. Evaluation of immunohistochemical expression for the RTKs PDGFR-β, c-Kit, and Alb in canine brain samples reveals an interesting potential for molecular targeting by TKIs in therapeutic studies of canine brain tumors, and more studies will be needed to assess the interactions and efficacy of these RTKs and TKIs. Based on these results, we have some evidence for novel chemotherapeutic trials using TKIs for canine nervous tumors. ? 2019, Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics. All rights reserved.