Assessment of Thrombocyte, Osteopontin and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Levels in Bitches with Inflammatory or Ulcerative Mammary Tumors: Preliminary Study-Methodological Study

Objective: The aim of this preliminary study is to compare the histological grading, tumor-lymph node-metastasis (TNM) scores, platelet (PLT) levels, serum/plasma osteopontin (OPN) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) between ulcerative or inflammatory and non-ulcerative and non-inflammatory malignant mammary tumors of dogs. Material and Methods: Study groups were formed as; ulcerated mammary tumors (UMT; n=5), inflammatory mammary tumors (IMT; n=6) and nonulcerative and non-inflammatory mammary tumors (MT; n=7). Results: TNM scores in UMT and IMT groups were significantly higher than MT group (p<0.05 and p<0.01; respectively). Levels of PLT were tended to be higher in group UMT than in group MT, but failed to reach significance (p=0.08). Plasma OPN levels were significantly higher in group IMT than in group MT (p<0.05). Serum and plasma VEGF levels did not differ between the groups (p>0.05). Plasma OPN was moderately correlated with serum OPN (r=0.562, p<0.05). Serum OPN levels were positively correlated with histological grading of the tumor (r=0.518, p<0.05). VEGF was not associated with ulceration or inflammation in mammary tumors due to the malignant character in all groups. However, the plasma OPN level was predictive in the presence of inflammation on tumor while serum OPN levels were significantly associated with histological grade of the tumor. Conclusion: In conclusion, PLT levels and OPN levels are capable to reflect the increased malignancy as in histological grades and TNM scores in female dogs with canine mammary tumor. As a result of that OPN could have a pathophysiological role in canine mammary tumors as in human breast cancer.