Immunohistochemical expression of p63, Ki67 and β-catenin in canine transitional cell carcinoma and polypoid cystitis of the urinary bladder

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is a urinary bladder tumour associated with high mortality in dogs. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using p63, Ki67 or beta-catenin as a clinical marker for predicting biological behaviour and prognosis in canine TCC. Expression levels of these proteins in TCC (n=25), polypoid cystitis (n=5) and normal urinary bladder (n=5) were scored after immunohistochemical staining. The staining scores for p63 (P < 0.01) and beta-catenin (P < 0.05) in TCC were significantly lower than those in normal urinary bladder and polypoid cystitis. In contrast, Ki67 (P < 0.01) staining scores in TCC were significantly higher than those in normal urinary bladder and polypoid cystitis. In TCC, low p63 expression was significantly related to the presence of vessel invasion (P < 0.05) and metastasis (P < 0.01) as well as short survival time (P < 0.05). These findings show that p63 could be a reliable marker for predicting prognosis in canine TCC.