Mammary tumor

For mammary tumors in humans, see breast cancer.

A mammary tumor is a tumor originating in the mammary gland. It is a common finding in older female dogs and cats that are not spayed, but they are found in other animals as well. The mammary glands in dogs and cats are associated with their nipples and extend from the underside of the chest to the groin on both sides of the midline. There are many differences between mammary tumors in animals and breast cancer in humans, including tumor type, malignancy, and treatment options. The prevalence in dogs is about three times that of women.[1] In dogs, mammary tumors are the second most common tumor (after skin tumors) over all and the most common tumor in female dogs[2] with a reported incidence of 3.4%.[3] Multiple studies have documented that spaying female dogs when young greatly decreases their risk of developing mammary neoplasia when aged. Compared with female dogs left intact, those spayed before puberty have 0.5% of the risk, those spayed after one estrous cycle have 8.0% of the risk, and dogs spayed after two estrous cycles have 26.0% of the risk of developing mammary neoplasia later in life. Overall, unspayed female dogs have a seven times greater risk of developing mammary neoplasia than do those that are spayed. While the benefit of spaying decreases with each estrous cycle, some benefit has been demonstrated in female dogs even up to 9 years of age.[3] There is a much lower risk (about 1 percent) in male dogs and a risk in cats about half that of dogs.[4]

Mammary tumor in a dog

Mammary tumors in dogs

Female dog with a 9-month-old mammary tumor. Note the deep emaciation
The same, closer
X-Ray of an affected dog. The metastasis forbid it to breathe.
(click to enlarge picture)

Causes

The exact causes for the development of canine mammary tumors are not fully understood.[5] However, hormones of the estrous cycle seem to be involved. Female dogs who are not spayed or who are spayed later than the first heat cycle are more likely to develop mammary tumors. Dogs have an overall reported incidence of mammary tumors of 3.4 percent. Dogs spayed before their first heat have 0.5 percent of this risk, and dogs spayed after just one heat cycle have 8 percent of this risk.[1] The tumors are often multiple. The average age of dogs with mammary tumors is ten to eleven years old.[6] Obesity at one year of age and eating red meat have also been associated with an increased risk for these tumors,[7] as has the feeding of high fat homemade diets.[8] There are several hypotheses on the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of canine mammary tumors but a specific genetic mutation has not been identified.[5]

Biology

Historically, about 50 percent of mammary tumors in dogs were found to be malignant,[9] although taking into account tumor behavior, one study has estimated true malignancy in mammary tumors to be 21 to 22 percent.[6] Adenomas and fibroadenomas make up the benign types. Malignant mammary tumors are divided into sarcomas, carcinosarcomas, inflammatory carcinomas (usually anaplastic carcinomas), and carcinomas (including adenocarcinomas), which are the most common.[9] Inflammatory carcinomas describe tumors that are fast growing and have bruising, edema, and pain, and can also cause disseminated intravascular coagulation. They are the most malignant type of canine mammary tumor.[10]

Malignant tumors are also subdivided histopathologically into those showing blood vessel wall invasion and those that do not. Without blood vessel wall invasion there is a better prognosis.[11] Dogs with noninvasive adenocarcinomas have an average survival time of two years, while dogs with invasive adenocarcinomas have an average survival time of one year.[11] Tumor size also affects the prognosis, in that dogs with tumors greater than five centimeters have a greater chance of lymph node metastasis.[12] Tumor type is also important. Sarcomas and carcinosarcomas carry an average survival time of nine to twelve months.[9] Inflammatory carcinomas have a very poor prognosis, and have usually metastasized by the time of diagnosis.[9] Metastasis for any malignant mammary tumor is usually to the regional lymph nodes and lungs.[11]

The molecular carcinogenesis of canine mammary tumors are not completely understand. However, the increasing information on molecular pathways involved in the carcinogenesis of this canine tumor has potential to complement and refine the current diagnostic and therapeutic approach to this tumor type.[5] Furthermore, current data show that significant similarities and differences exist between canine and human mammary tumors at the molecular level.[13][14]

Diagnosis and treatment

Appearance and location of the tumor is enough to identify it as a mammary tumor. Biopsy will give type and invasiveness of the tumor. In addition, newer studies showed that certain gene expression patterns are associated with malignant behaviour of canine mammary tumors.[5][13][14][15][16]

Surgical removal is the treatment of choice, but chest x-rays should be taken first to rule out metastasis. Removal should be with wide margins to prevent recurrence, taking the whole mammary gland if necessary. Because 40 to 50 percent of dog mammary tumors have estrogen receptors,[11] spaying is recommended by many veterinarians. A recent study showed a better prognosis in dogs that are spayed at the time of surgery or that had been recently spayed.[12] However, several other studies found no improvement of disease outcome when spaying was performed after the tumor had developed. Chemotherapy is rarely used.[4]

Breeds at increased risk

Mammary tumors in cats

Mammary tumors are the third most common neoplasia in cats, following lymphoid and skin cancers.[17] The incidence of mammary tumors in cats is reduced by 91 percent in cats spayed prior to six months of age and by 86 percent in cats spayed prior to one year, according to one study.[18] Siamese cats and Japanese breeds seem to have increased risk,[19] and obesity also appears to be a factor in tumor development.[20] Malignant tumors make up 80 to 96 percent of mammary tumors in cats, almost all adenocarcinomas.[21] Male cats may also develop mammary adenocarcinoma, albeit rarely, and the clinical course is similar to female cats.[22] As in dogs, tumor size is an important prognostic factor, although for tumors less than three centimeters the individual size is less predictive. According to one study, cats with tumors less than three cm had an average survival time of 21 months, and cats with tumors greater than three cm had an average survival of 12 months.[17] About 10 percent of cat mammary tumors have estrogen receptors, so spaying at the time of surgery has little effect on recurrence or survival time.[11] Metastasis tends to be to the lungs and lymph nodes, and rarely to bone.[23] Diagnosis and treatment is similar to the dog. There is a better prognosis with bilateral radical surgery (removing the both mammary chains) than with more conservative surgery.[24] Doxorubicin has shown some promise in treatment.[25]

Mammary tumors in other animals

Mammary tumors in ferrets

Mammary tumors are rare in ferrets. Appearance tends to be a soft, dark colored lump. Most seem to be benign and occur most frequently in neutered males. Surgery is recommended.

Mammary tumors in guinea pigs

Mammary tumors in guinea pigs occur in males and females. Most are benign, but 30 percent are adenocarcinomas.[26] They usually do not metastasize, but aggressive surgery is necessary to prevent recurrence.

Mammary tumors in mice

Most mammary tumors in mice are adenocarcinomas. They can be caused by viral infection.[26] Recurrence rates are high, and therefore there is a poor prognosis. There is frequently local tissue invasion and metastasis to the lungs.[27] A well known tumor virus of the mouse is the mouse mammary tumor virus MMTV, which may be the most common cause of this tumor in mice.[28]

Mammary tumors in rats

A mammary tumor in a rat.

Most mammary tumors in rats are benign fibroadenomas, which are also the most common tumor in the rat.[29] Less than 10 percent are adenocarcinomas.[26] They occur in male and female rats. The tumors can be large and occur anywhere on the trunk.[27] There is a good prognosis with surgery.[30] Spayed rats have a decreased risk of developing mammary tumors.[31]

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have found that lavender oil may have played a role in the reduction of advanced mammary tumors in lab rats. Research is on-going for potential breast, ovarian, pancreatic, liver, and prostate cancer treatments in humans.

Mammary tumors in hamsters and gerbils

Mammary tumors tend to be benign in hamsters and malignant in gerbils.

Mammary tumors in hedgehogs

Mammary gland adenocarcinoma is the most common tumor of the hedgehog.[29]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Mammary Tumors: Introduction". The Merck Veterinary Manual. 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  2. ↑ Benjamin S, Lee A, Saunders W (1999). "Classification and behavior of canine mammary epithelial neoplasms based on life-span observations in beagles". Vet Pathol. 36 (5): 423–36. doi:10.1354/vp.36-5-423. PMID 10490210.
  3. 1 2 "Determining The Best Age At Which To Spay Or Neuter" (PDF). 2008.
  4. 1 2 Kirpensteijn, Jolle; Rutteman, Gerard R. (2006). "Practical treatment of mammary neoplasia" (PDF). Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Klopfleisch R, von Euler H, Sarli G, Pinho SS, Gärtner F, Gruber AD (2010). "Molecular Carcinogenesis of Canine Mammary Tumors: News From an Old Disease". Veterinary Pathology. 228 (1): 98–116. doi:10.1177/0300985810390826. PMID 21149845.
  6. 1 2 Schafer K, Kelly G, Schrader R, Griffith W, Muggenburg B, Tierney L, Lechner J, Janovitz E, Hahn F (1998). "A canine model of familial mammary gland neoplasia". Vet Pathol. 35 (3): 168–77. doi:10.1177/030098589803500302. PMID 9598580.
  7. ↑ Pérez Alenza D, Rutteman G, Peña L, Beynen A, Cuesta P (1998). "Relation between habitual diet and canine mammary tumors in a case-control study". J Vet Intern Med. 12 (3): 132–9. doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.1998.tb02108.x. PMID 9595373.
  8. ↑ Sirivaidyapong, S. (2003). "Dogs with Mammary Gland Tumors and the Feeding Dietary Types". Proceedings of the 28th World Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Ettinger, Stephen J.; Feldman, Edward C. (1995). Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine (4th ed.). W.B. Saunders Company. ISBN 0-7216-6795-3.
  10. ↑ Nieto, Ana; Peña, Laura; Silvan, Gema; Perez-Alenza, Maria Dolores; Illera, Juan Carlos (2002). "Serum Hormone Profile of Canine Inflammatory Carcinoma". Proceedings of the 27th World Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Morrison, Wallace B. (1998). Cancer in Dogs and Cats (1st ed.). Williams and Wilkins. ISBN 0-683-06105-4.
  12. 1 2 Chang S, Chang C, Chang T, Wong M (2005). "Prognostic factors associated with survival two years after surgery in dogs with malignant mammary tumors: 79 cases (1998-2002)". J Am Vet Med Assoc. 227 (10): 1625–9. doi:10.2460/javma.2005.227.1625. PMID 16313041.
  13. 1 2 Klopfleisch R, Klose P, Weise C, Bondzio A, Multhaup G, Einspanier R, Gruber AD (2010). "Proteome of metastatic canine mammary carcinomas: similarities to and differences from human breast cancer.". J Proteome Res. 9 (12): 6380–91. doi:10.1021/pr100671c. PMID 20932060.
  14. 1 2 Klopfleisch R, Lenze D, Hummel M, Gruber AD (2010). "Metastatic canine mammary carcinomas can be identified by a gene expression profile that partly overlaps with human breast cancer profiles.". BMC Cancer. 10: 618. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-10-618. PMC 2994823Freely accessible. PMID 21062462.
  15. ↑ Klopfleisch R, Lenze D, Hummel M, Gruber AD (2010). "The metastatic cascade is reflected in the transcriptome of metastatic canine mammary carcinomas.". Veterinary Journal. 190: 236–243. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.10.018. PMID 21112801.
  16. ↑ Klopfleisch R, Klose P, Gruber AD (2010). "The combined expression pattern of BMP2, LTBP4, and DERL1 discriminates malignant from benign canine mammary tumors.". Veterinary Pathology. 47 (3): 446–54. doi:10.1177/0300985810363904. PMID 20375427.
  17. 1 2 Viste J, Myers S, Singh B, Simko E (2002). "Feline mammary adenocarcinoma: tumor size as a prognostic indicator". Can Vet J. 43 (1): 33–7. PMC 339085Freely accessible. PMID 11802667.
  18. ↑ Overley B, Shofer F, Goldschmidt M, Sherer D, Sorenmo K (2005). "Association between ovarihysterectomy and feline mammary carcinoma". J Vet Intern Med. 19 (4): 560–3. doi:10.1892/0891-6640(2005)19[560:ABOAFM]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0891-6640. PMID 16095174.
  19. ↑ Ito T, Kadosawa T, Mochizuki M, Matsunaga S, Nishimura R, Sasaki N (1996). "Prognosis of malignant mammary tumor in 53 cats". J Vet Med Sci. 58 (8): 723–6. doi:10.1292/jvms.58.723. PMID 8877968.
  20. ↑ German A (2006). "The growing problem of obesity in dogs and cats". J Nutr. 136 (7 Suppl): 1940S–1946S. PMID 16772464.
  21. ↑ Millanta F, Lazzeri G, Mazzei M, Vannozzi I, Poli A (2002). "MIB-1 labeling index in feline dysplastic and neoplastic mammary lesions and its relationship with postsurgical prognosis". Vet Pathol. 39 (1): 120–6. doi:10.1354/vp.39-1-120. PMID 12102203.
  22. ↑ Skorupski K, Overley B, Shofer F, Goldschmidt M, Miller C, Sørenmo K (2005). "Clinical characteristics of mammary carcinoma in male cats". J Vet Intern Med. 19 (1): 52–5. doi:10.1892/0891-6640(2005)19<52:CCOMCI>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0891-6640. PMID 15715048.
  23. ↑ Waters D, Honeckman A, Cooley D, DeNicola D (1998). "Skeletal metastasis in feline mammary carcinoma: case report and literature review". J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 34 (2): 103–8. PMID 9507421.
  24. ↑ Novosad C, Bergman P, O'brien M, McKnight J, Charney S, Selting K, Graham J, Correa S, Rosenberg M, Gieger T (2006). "Retrospective Evaluation of Adjunctive Doxorubicin for the Treatment of Feline Mammary Gland Adenocarcinoma: 67 Cases". J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 42 (2): 110–120. doi:10.5326/0420110. PMID 16527911.
  25. ↑ Moore, Anthony (2004). "Advances in the treatment of mammary neoplasia" (PDF). Proceedings of the 31st World Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  26. 1 2 3 Hillyer, Elizabeth V.; Quesenberry, Katherin E. (1997). Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery (1st ed.). W.B. Saunders Company. ISBN 0-7216-4023-0.
  27. 1 2 "Rats and Mice: Neoplasia". The Merck Veterinary Manual. 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  28. ↑ Szabo S, Haislip A, Garry R (2005). "Of mice, cats, and men: is human breast cancer a zoonosis?". Microsc Res Tech. 68 (3–4): 197–208. doi:10.1002/jemt.20232. PMID 16276516.
  29. 1 2 Greenacre C (2004). "Spontaneous tumors of small mammals". Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 7 (3): 627–51, vi. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2004.04.009. PMID 15296867.
  30. ↑ Pritchett, K.R.; Corning, B.F. (2006). "Biology and Medicine of Rats". Laboratory Animal Medicine and Management. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  31. ↑ Capello, Vittorio (2006). "Clinical and surgical approach to common diseases of pet rodents" (PDF). Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference. Retrieved 2007-03-21.

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