Plasma levels of chemokines CCL2 and CXCL12 in female dogs with malignant mammary gland tumours without and with metastases

The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma levels of chemokines CCL2 and CXCL12 in female dogs with malignant mammary gland tumours without and with metastases. The concentrations of CCL2 and CXCL12 were determined in 25 female dogs with malignant mammary gland tumours (15 without metastases and 10 with metastases) and 10 healthy control animals using a specific canine ELISA assay. The mean plasma concentrations of CCL2 and CXCL12 were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the metastatic group compared to the control group. Moreover, the concentrations of these chemokines were markedly higher in the dogs with metastases than in those without metastases; however, a statistically significant difference was not found. The concentrations of both tested chemokines were numerically increased in the dogs with grade 2 and grade 3 carcinomas compared to the dogs with grade 1 carcinomas but the differences did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, the results of our study demonstrate that plasma concentrations of chemokines CCL2 and CXCL12 are significantly increased in the dogs with metastatic malignant mammary gland tumours compared to the healthy dogs and show an upward trend compared to those without metastases. However, clarifying whether the increase of these chemokines is a cause or an effect of metastasis in female dogs with malignant mammary gland tumours as well as their potential role in metastatic process requires further research.