Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in a Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma of a Horse: Future Perspectives.
Authors: Armando Federico, Godizzi Francesco, Razzuoli Elisabetta, Leonardi Fabio, Angelone Mario, Corradi Attilio, Meloni Daniela, Ferrari Luca, Passeri Benedetta
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Equine Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in horses shares important aetiological features with human disease, notably strong association with high-risk papillomavirus infection (EcPV2 in equines, h-HPV in humans), yet the cellular mechanisms driving tumour progression remain poorly characterised in the equine context. This case study employed immunohistochemical analysis of a naturally occurring equine laryngeal SCC to investigate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)—a cellular process whereby tumour cells lose epithelial characteristics and acquire migratory, invasive properties—examining markers including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, and EMT-associated transcription factors (TWIST-1, ZEB-1, HIF-1α). The tumour demonstrated a classical cadherin switch (loss of E-cadherin, gain of N-cadherin) alongside rearrangement of intermediate filaments and upregulation of all three EMT transcription factors; critically, EcPV2 DNA was detected with characteristic E2 gene disruption and E6 dysregulation. These findings suggest equine laryngeal SCC may serve as a clinically relevant model for understanding how papillomavirus oncoproteins drive EMT-mediated progression towards invasiveness and metastatic potential, with implications for understanding biological behaviour of these typically aggressive tumours and potentially informing novel therapeutic approaches targeting EMT pathways in affected horses.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Equine laryngeal SCC associated with EcPV2 infection may warrant surveillance and investigation similar to human h-HPV-associated laryngeal cancers
- •Understanding EMT mechanisms in equine SCCL could inform future therapeutic targets for managing equine laryngeal tumors
- •This case demonstrates the value of investigating naturally occurring equine tumors as comparative models for human oncology research
Key Findings
- •EcPV2 DNA detected in laryngeal SCC with E2 gene disruption and E6 gene dysregulation
- •Cadherin switch observed with decreased E-cadherin and increased N-cadherin expression in tumor cells
- •EMT-related transcription factors TWIST-1, ZEB-1, and HIF-1α were expressed in primary tumor site
- •Intermediate filament rearrangement documented with vimentin expression alongside pan-cytokeratin positivity