Application of Immunohistochemistry in Tumour Classification: A Comparative Study of Canine and Human Tissues
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.22.1.05Keywords:
Canine mammary tumours, Comparative oncology, Human breast cancer, Immunohistochemistry, Molecular subtypesAbstract
This study was aimed to perform a comparative analysis of canine mammary tumours (CMT) and human breast cancer (HBC) by evaluating similarities in molecular characteristics and assessing the transmodel potential of CMT for human breast cancer research. Immuno-histochemistry (IHC) was employed to analyze the expression of key biomarkers, viz., estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), and Ki-67 in both canine and human mammary tumour tissues (n=30 each). Tissue samples were processed using standard IHC protocols, including antigen retrieval, blocking of endogenous peroxidase, and incubation with primary and secondary antibodies. Biomarker expression levels were quantified and compared across tumour subtypes in both species. The analysis revealed significant parallels in the expression patterns of ER, PR, HER-2, and Ki-67 between CMT and HBC. Molecular subtypes identified in canines, including luminal A, luminal B, HER-2 overexpressing, and triple-negative, closely mirrored those classified in human breast cancer. Furthermore, the proliferation marker Ki-67 exhibited comparable expression across species, suggesting similar tumour growth dynamics. These findings demonstrate that canine mammary tumours share molecular and histological characteristics with human breast cancer, supporting their value as a translatable model in breast cancer research. Consequently, canine mammary tumours represent a valuable platform for investigating tumour biology and therapeutic interventions relevant to human breast cancer.
Downloads
References
Abdelmegeed, S.M., & Mohammed, S. (2018). Canine mammary tumours as a model for human disease. Oncology Letters, 15(6), 8195–8205.
Ahn, S., Woo, J.W., Lee, K., & Park, S.Y. (2020). HER2 status in breast cancer: Changes in guidelines and complicating factors for interpretation. Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine, 54(1), 34–44.
Carvalho, M.I., Silva-Carvalho, R., Pires, I., Prada, J., Bianchini, R., Jensen-Jarolim, E., & Queiroga, F.L. (2016). A comparative approach of tumour-associated inflammation in mammary cancer between humans and dogs. Biomed Research International, 4(2), 491–499.
Dutra, A.P., Granja, N.V.M., Schmitt, F.C., & Cassali, G.D. (2004). c-erbB-2 expression and nuclear pleomorphism in canine mammary tumours. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 37, 1673–1681.
Gama, A., Alves, A., & Schmitt, F.J.V.A. (2008). Identification of molecular phenotypes in canine mammary carcinomas with clinical implications: Application of the human classification. Virchows Archiv, 453, 123–132.
Goldschmidt, M., Peña, L., Rasotto, R., & Zappulli, V. (2011). Classification and grading of canine mammary tumours. Veterinary Pathology, 48(1), 117–131.
Hawai, S.M., Al Zayer, M., Ali, M.M., Niu, Y., Al Awad, A., Al Jofan, M., Al-Jarbou, A., & Al Tuwijri, S. (2013). Dogs: Active role model for cancer studies – A review. Journal of Cancer Therapy, 4, 989–995.
Hsu, S.M., Raine, L., & Fanger, H. (1981). Use of avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) in immunoperoxidase techniques. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, 29, 557–580.
Im, K.S., Kim, N.H., Lim, H.Y., Kim, H.W., Shin, J.I., & Sur, J.H. (2014). Analysis of a new histological and molecular-based classification of canine mammary neoplasia. Veterinary Pathology, 51(3), 549–559.
Joensuu, K., Leidenius, M., Kero, M., Anderson, L.C., Horwitz, K.B., & Heikkila, P. (2013). ER, PR, HER2, Ki-67 and CK5 in early and late relapsing breast cancer: Reduced CK5 expression in metastasis. Breast Cancer, 7, 23–24.
Kim, S.H., Park, M.K., Kim, J.Y., Chuong, P.D., Lee, Y.S., Yoon, B.S., & Lim, Y.K. (2005). Development of a sandwich ELISA for the detection of Listeria spp. using specific flagella antibodies. Journal of Veterinary Science, 6(1), 41–46.
Leong, T.Y., Cooper, K., & Leong, A.S. (2010). Immunohistology: Past, present, and future. Advances in Anatomic Pathology, 17(6), 404–418.
Lichtenbeld, H.C., Barendsz-Janson, A.F., & Van Essen, H. (1998). Angiogenic potential of malignant and non-malignant human breast tissue in an in vivo angiogenesis model. International Journal of Cancer, 77, 455–459.
Millanta, F., Calandrella, M., Bari, G., Niccolini, M., Vannozzi, I., & Poli, A. (2005). Comparison of steroid receptor expression in normal, dysplastic, and neoplastic canine and feline mammary tissues. Research in Veterinary Science, 79(3), 225–232.
Munsef, A., Mansour, A., Mahir, A.G., Seham, A., Azreg, A., & Sausen, A.D. (2018). Comparative histopathology and immunohistochemistry of human and canine mammary tumours. Open Veterinary Journal, 8(3), 243–249.
Nowak, M., Madej, J.A., & Dziegiel, P. (2005). Correlation in the expression of HER2 receptor and Ki-67 antigen in mammary adenocarcinomas in bitches. Bulletin of the Veterinary Institute in Pulawy, 49(3), 337–342.
Pena, L., Gama, A., Goldschmidt, M.H., Abadie, J., Benazzi, C., Castagnaro, M., & Mulas, J.M.D.L. (2014). Canine mammary tumours: A review and consensus of standard guidelines on epithelial and myoepithelial phenotype markers, HER2, and hormone receptor assessment using immunohistochemistry. Veterinary Pathology, 51(1), 127–145.
Queiroga, F.L., Raposo, T., Carvalho, M.I., Prada, J., & Pires, I. (2011). Canine mammary tumours as a model to study human breast cancer: Most recent findings. In Vivo Journal, 25(3), 455–465.
Raval, S.H. (2017). Histopathological and molecular characterization of canine mammary tumours (Doctoral thesis). Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Dantiwada, Gujarat, India.
Ribeiro, G.M., Bertagnolli, A.C., Rocha, R.M., & Cassali, G.D. (2012). Morphological aspects and immunophenotypic profiles of mammary carcinomas in benign-mixed tumours of female dogs. Veterinary Medicine International, 12, 1–7.
Sassi, F., Benazzi, C., Castellani, G., & Sarli, G. (2010). Molecular-based tumour subtypes of canine mammary carcinomas assessed by immunohistochemistry. BMC Veterinary Research, 6(1), 5.
Shinoda, H., Legare, M.E., Mason, G.L., Berkbigler, J.L., Afzali, M.F., Flint, A.F., & Hanneman, W.H. (2014). Significance of ERα, HER2, and CAV1 expression and molecular subtype classification to canine mammary gland tumour. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 26(3), 390–403.
Sorenmo, K.U., Worley, D.R., & Goldschmidt, M.H. (2013). Tumours of the mammary gland. In Withrow and MacEwen’s Small Animal Clinical Oncology (pp. 538–556). Elsevier, United States.
Sorenmo, K.U., Kristiansen, V.M., Cofone, M.A., Shofer, F.S., Been, A.M., Langeland, M., Mongel, C.M., Grondahl, A.M., Teige, J., & Goldschmidt, M.H. (2009). Canine mammary gland tumours: A histological continuum from benign to malignant. Veterinary Comparative Oncology, 7(3), 162–172.
Sultan, F., & Ganaie, B. (2018). Comparative oncology: Integrating human and veterinary medicine. Open Veterinary Journal, 8(1), 25–34.
Tavassoli, F.A., & Devilee, P. (2003). World Health Organization Classification of Tumours: Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of the Breast and Female Genital Organs (Vol. 5). IARC Press, Lyon, pp. 14–15.
Valdivia, G., Alonso-Diez, Á., Pérez-Alenza, D., & Peña, L. (2021). From conventional to precision therapy in canine mammary cancer: A comprehensive review. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 623800.
Vazquez, E., Lipovka, Y., Cervantes-Arias, A., Garibay-Escobar, A., Haby, M.M., Queiroga, F.L., & Velazquez, C. (2023). Canine mammary cancer: State of the art and future perspectives. Animals, 13(19), 3147.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

