Influence of E-cadherin genetic variation in canine mammary tumor risk, clinicopathological features and prognosis.

E-cadherin is a cell adhesion molecule that participates in several cellular processes that guarantee the maintenance of structural and functional integrity of epithelial tissues. E-cadherin plays an important role in mammary carcinogenesis and various studies have demonstrated the effect of CDH1 genetic variation in risk, progression and biological behavior of human breast cancer. Although there are some recognized genetic variations in canine CDH1 gene, their influence in canine mammary tumor development and progression has not been previously evaluated. In this study, we aim to assess the influence of CDH1 SNPs rs850805755, rs852280880 and rs852639930 in the risk, clinicopathological features and clinical outcome of canine mammary tumors. A case-control study was conducted involving 206 bitches with mammary tumors and 161 bitches free of mammary neoplasia. CDH1 SNPs rs850805755 and rs852280880 were associated with a decreased risk and a later onset of mammary tumor development. Furthermore, these SNPs were related to the development of small size carcinomas, of low histological grade and low nuclear pleomorphism. SNP rs852639930 was associated with the development of small size tumors with a non-infiltrative, non-invasive growth pattern. Data from the present investigation demonstrate that these CDH1 genetic variants could have a protective role in canine mammary tumors, by being associated with low risk of tumor development, delayed onset of the disease and less aggressive clinicopathological features. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.