@inproceedings{01JQY5VWEH8ZTCF0RZ3VHAD9H2,
  abstract     = {{The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of mammary carcinomas comprises a complex collection of pro- and anti-tumorigenic immune cells that, in contrast to humans, remains underinvestigated in companion animals. We immunohistochemically analyzed a set of complementary and specific innate and adaptive immune cell markers, as well as the vWF+ blood vessel density, Ki67 proliferation index and hormonal receptor status on retrospectively collected canine mammary carcinomas (CMC). This allowed to spatially investigate the CMC TIME.  

Innate immune cells, including antigen-presenting cells (HLA-DR+), tumor-associated macrophages (CD163+) and -neutrophils (MPO+), mainly resided in the tumoral stroma and formed an immunosuppressive border surrounding the tumor core, most prominently in grade III carcinomas. Activated T lymphocytes were either scattered (PD-1+) or clustered (GZMB+) with B lymphocytes (CD20+) in assumed tertiary lymphoid structures in the tumoral stroma, while infiltrated T lymphocytes (CD3+) in the tumor core showed no activation.  

Collectively, our data indicated that CMC are associated with an immunosuppressed, vascularized and proliferative TIME. Moreover, grade II and III CMC are mainly associated with the aggressive HER2+ and triple-negative subtype compared to grade I CMC. This warrants further exploration of the underlying pro-tumorigenic mechanism in the CMC TIME with potential prognostic and therapeutic applications in companion animals.}},
  author       = {{De Haes, Caro and De Rooster, Hilde and Demeyere, Kristel and De Cock, Hilde and Meyer, Evelyne and Steenbrugge, Jonas}},
  booktitle    = {{Research Day 2025, Abstracts}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  location     = {{Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Merelbeke, Belgium}},
  pages        = {{1}},
  title        = {{Canine mammary carcinomas are associated with an immunosuppressed, vascularized and proliferative microenvironment}},
  url          = {{https://www.ugent.be/ge/nl/onderzoek/rd.htm}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}