As mentioned previously, sex hormones participate in the initiation, promotion and progression of carcinogenesis of mammary tumors. Estrogen is mainly synthetized by the ovaries; however, it has been detected in high concentrations, along with some of its precursors, in malignant mammary tissue
[64]. The exposure duration of mammary tissue to estrogens is key to tumor development. Benign mammary tumors and low-grade malignant tumors are usually ERα (estrogen receptor alpha) positive, while high-grade malignant tumors tend to be ERα negative by histology
[62][65]. The ER1 (estrogen receptor 1) gene has a similar pattern of expression, as it is not expressed in high-grade carcinomas. Estrogen modulates gene expression and directly affects the phosphorylation (activation) of several protein kinases. As a result of these genomic and non-genomic pathways, estrogen can accelerate cell proliferation, which in turn increases the chances of acquiring new genetic errors
[26].
HER-2 overexpression has been associated with poor prognosis, and HER-2 has functions in the regulation of tumor growth and cell differentiation and constitutes a marker for targeted treatment
[66]. In women with breast cancer, HER-2 has been identified in 30% of the cases. In dogs, a positive correlation has been described between HER-2 expression, malignancy and high histological grade, suggesting a role in canine mammary carcinogenesis
[67].
Prostaglandins (PG) are lipidic mediators involved in tumorigenic processes mainly controlled by a cyclooxygenase enzyme. PG can modulate the immune system and affect proliferative processes, apoptosis and angiogenesis
[68]. Cyclooxygenases (Cox1, Cox2 and Cox3) are catalytic enzymes that are necessary for the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin G2 and subsequently to PGH2, a precursor of prostanoids (prostacyclins and thromboxanes). Isoenzyme Cox2 increases during inflammation and is implicated in the development and progression of different types of tumors, including canine mammary tumors
[69][70]. Cox2 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis at the time of surgery and with the development of distant metastasis. It is also more frequent and intense in malignant (compared to benign) mammary tumors, has been reported in 56–100% of the malignant cells and is correlated with a shorter survival
[70][71][72]. Cox2 modulates tumor progression through different mechanisms.
Genetic alterations are a part of mammary tumor development. The proto-oncogene epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in human breast cancer as expression of its phosphorylated form is associated with increased angiogenesis and metastasis
[73]. In malignant canine mammary carcinomas, overexpression of EGFR is associated with tumor size, necrosis, mitotic grade, histological grade of malignancy, tumor relapse, distant metastasis and clinical stage.
Other common genetic alterations found in canine mammary cancer are mutations in the genes encoding proteins of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is necessary for the regulation of proliferation, protein synthesis, apoptosis, cell motility and angiogenesis and is dysregulated in several canine mammary tumors
[39][74]. Mutations in the PIK3CA (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha), PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog), PIK3R1 (phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1) and AKT1 (serine/threonine kinase 1) genes have been identified in canine mammary cancers at comparable frequencies to human breast cancers, indicating that they may be conserved across species
[39]. The canine PIK3CA gene mutated in 55% and 38% of benign and malignant mammary tumors, respectively, encodes for a 1068 amino acid protein that shares 99% similarity with its human counterpart. Therefore, it is highly likely that a predisposing functional mutation of PIK3CA is comparable between humans and dogs
[75]. Mutations in PIK3CA could over-activate this signaling pathway, promoting tumorigenesis
[76].
2.4. Clinical Signs
Mammary tumors are usually firm, well-defined nodules and their size can vary from millimeters to centimeters. They can occur in multiple glands at the same time and be of different histological types and grades. In addition, multiple tumors can coexist in the same mammary gland. The caudal abdominal glands are more frequently affected (up to 60% of cases) than the thoracic glands
[77]. The skin in the affected area can be ulcerated or traumatized, as shown in
Figure 2. Evaluation and palpation of regional lymph nodes are mandatory during diagnosis.
Figure 2. Canines with multiple mammary tumors localized in different glands. Tumor measurements larger than 5 cm in diameter with inflammation (A) and ulcerated skin (A,B) can be seen (own photo).
Most canines with mammary tumors are clinically healthy at the time of diagnosis
[77]. However, patients with metastasis can present fatigue, lethargy, weight loss, dyspnea, cough, edema or lameness. Clinical signs depend on the extension and localization of metastasis
[21][34]. Approximately 50% of mammary carcinomas metastasize to regional lymph nodes. Lymph node involvement is variable and can promote distant metastasis, most frequently to the lung (see
Figure 3); metastatic bone lesions may also occur
[21][34][78].
Figure 3. Three projections of thoracic radiographs, right and left lateral and ventrodorsal, with nodular interstitial pattern in a 12-year-old Dachshund patient with metastatic mammary carcinoma (own photo).
2.5. Diagnosis
Mammary tumor diagnosis is usually made either by an accidental finding during a physical exam or in patients who attend the veterinary consultation due to the presence of one or multiple nodules in the mammary glands. The definitive diagnosis and tumor grade are established based on histopathological analysis. Historically, mammary cancer classification consisted of establishing the type and histologic grade of the tumor. Nowadays, ERα, PR and HER-2 overexpression are also included, helping to better assess prognosis and establish appropriate treatment regimens in the medical practice
[79].
An excisional biopsy is a good option for histopathological diagnosis of the tumor as it allows a complete histological evaluation and, in some cases, can be therapeutic. If the patient presents with multiple tumors, each tumor should be evaluated individually as different tumor types can be present in the same patient
[21][80].
Fine needle aspiration (FNA) does not always lead to a diagnosis, mostly due to the heterogeneity of canine tumors and the inherent variability of cell morphology in different tumor areas. Therefore, the exact differentiation between benign and malignant tumors of epithelial origin often cannot be made. Although several studies in canines have reported low sensitivity and specificity rates of FNA cytology, Simon and collaborators demonstrated an 88% sensitivity and 96% specificity in malignant mammary tumor diagnosis by cytology (using histopathology as the gold standard). They collected at least four samples per tumor, which increased the probability of evaluating different areas of a heterogeneous tumor, and all samples were assessed by two observers
[81].
Cytology can be useful to rule out differential diagnoses such as mastitis, lipomas, mast cell tumors and others. Although performing FNA of the tumor during clinical evaluation does not interfere with the surgical planning of the patients, the type of surgery is determined by the size of the lesion, the affected mammary glands and the lymphatic drainage
[77].
2.6. Staging and Prognosis
Mammary tumors are staged using the tumor, lymph node, metastasis (TNM) system, established by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to this system, the patient is placed in one of five clinical stages based on tumor size, lymph node status and presence of metastasis. Stages I–III are assigned to non-metastatic patients (depending on their tumor size), while lymph node metastasis is classified as IV regardless of tumor size, and distant metastasis is classified as stage V.
Staging of all patients with mammary tumors is important because mammary carcinomas can metastasize through lymphatic vessels to lymph nodes and lungs (mainly). Lymphatic drainage should be assessed, and clinical exploration of the regional lymph nodes should be made in case they are palpable or enlarged. A tissue sample should be taken for cytology or histopathology evaluation to confirm or discard metastasis
[82].
A retrospective case series study of 79 female dogs with malignant mammary tumors showed that patients with tumors in clinical stages IV and V, have a post-surgery survival of 6 months, unlike patients in early clinical stages (I, II or III) that survive for longer. If ovariohysterectomy is performed at the time of tumor removal, canines are more likely to live over 2 years; however, this could also be affected by the tumor type diagnosed by histopathology
[83]. Another 2-year prospective study of 229 female dogs in Italy found a survival time of 18 months for canine patients diagnosed with adenosquamous carcinoma, 14 months for comedocarcinoma, 8 months for solid carcinoma and 3 months for anaplastic carcinoma and carcinosarcoma. These last two showed the highest rates of metastasis (89% and 100%, respectively)
[41].
2.7. Treatment
The treatment of choice for mammary tumors in dogs is surgery, except for inflammatory carcinoma, where palliative medical treatment and chemotherapy are preferred
[84]. The extent of surgery depends on the size and location of the tumor, as well as the presence of lymphatic drainage from the affected mammary gland
[85]. Malignant tumors are significantly larger than benign ones, and 60% of patients have been reported to have multiple mammary tumors, which behave as independent primary tumors with different histopathological characteristics
[86][87]. The goal of surgery is to remove all tumors with full surgical margins and/or prevent new mammary tumor formation. Canines with negative clinical or histopathological prognostic factors are not effectively treated with surgery alone and are at a higher risk of developing new mammary tumors
[85][86].
An additional benefit of a surgical resection of mammary tumors is that it allows for histopathological examination of the tissue. Therefore, it has been associated with increased survival time and quality of life of patients. In addition, in some cases, it can be curative. This is especially the case for benign tumors, malignant low histological grade tumors or patients in early stages, except for inflammatory carcinoma or metastatic tumors
[77].
Depending on the tumor size, location and number, surgery can be a simple mastectomy, regional mastectomy, radical mastectomy or a combination of these procedures. In patients with large tumors, lymph node metastases or unfavorable histopathological characteristics, local therapy is usually not effective and systemic treatment such as chemotherapy or hormonal therapy is required
[82][88].
The lymphatic system is considered the main route of metastasis of canine mammary cancer. This is one of the reasons why the lymph node and the glands associated with lymphatic drainage are also removed during surgical excision of the mammary tumor. In healthy canines, the lymphatic vessels drain to the ipsilateral lymph nodes. While there is no drainage to the contralateral lymph node or gland, this can be altered by the presence of a mammary neoplasm
[89][90].
Chemotherapy as an adjuvant or palliative therapy, or in cases of metastatic disease, is routinely used in women with breast cancer and has been shown to improve survival
[21]. In veterinary medicine, several chemotherapeutic protocols have been used in dogs with malignant mammary tumors. However, additional prospective studies are required to verify their benefit in the survival of patients with mammary carcinoma
[91]. Chemotherapy is recommended in patients at high risk of metastasis or recurrence characterized by regional lymph node metastasis, large tumors (>3 cm) and aggressive histopathological diagnosis such as high histological grade, vascular or lymphatic permeation
[92]. As there is limited information on the efficacy of chemotherapy in canine patients with mammary cancer, a more in-depth assessment, including randomized controlled trials, is needed to establish guidelines for its use.
3. Conclusions
Mammary cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignant neoplasms in canines, and it is the most frequent tumor in non-spayed female dogs. Similarities and differences have been demonstrated between mammary cancer in women and canines at the molecular level. These could serve as a basis for a better understanding of mammary cancer pathology, the development of new therapies and diagnostic tools, the establishment of classifications and meeting the concept of the One Health approach for the benefit of both species. However, epidemiological information in canines is limited, as few countries (and cities) have managed to properly document the clinical, pathological and epidemiological characteristics of mammary cancer in canines. Promoting the publication of research into different aspects of mammary cancer, establishing a collaborative network between different countries and determining the characteristics of dog populations will favor a better understanding of the disease. In addition, both surgical and chemotherapeutic procedures need to be standardized to improve response rates and survival of mammary cancer patients.