The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

Georgia Veterinary Scholars Program

GVSP Summer 2006 Scholars

Georgia Veterinary Scholar	Faculty Mentor

Jessica Stewart University of Georgia Class of 2009	Dr. Elizabeth Uhl

Expression of α-catenin in canine and feline squamous cell carcinomas (SCC)

Jessica Stewart*, Yeneth Perozo, Elizabeth Uhl
Pathology Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) are common cancers of many species including humans, dogs, and cats. These tumors form when squamous epithelial cells become neoplasic and break through their basement membrane to invade the underlying tissue. In human SCC the expression of the cell adhesion molecule α-catenin has been characterized, and decreased expression shown to have a positive correlation with malignancy. Expression of α-catenin in SCC of domestic animals has not been investigated. In normal skin, α-catenin is expressed in the intercellular bridges of the epidermal layer, and its interactions with cadherins are integral in forming epithelial sheets. Our hypothesis is that there is a decreased expression of α-catenin in SCC compared to normal epidermis. Immunohistochemistry using an anti-α-catenin IgG rabbit polyclonal antibody was utilized to detect α-catenin in 38 SCC samples from 19 dogs and 9 cats. Comparisons of α-catenin expression were made between SCC and the normal epidermis. The results of this study will contribute to the characterization of the pathogenesis of canine and feline SCC. In addition, these results will identify potentially useful prognostic markers for this tumor.