p53 Expression in Canine Liposarcoma Correlates With Myxoid Variant and Higher Proliferative Activity

Canine liposarcoma is classified as well differentiated (WDL), dedifferentiated (DDL), myxoid (ML), and pleomorphic (PL). Overexpression of the protooncogene MDM2 has been reported in WDL and DDL, but little is known regarding the role of p53 in their tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to assess p53 expression in canine liposarcoma and compare it with subtype, grade, mitotic count (MC), Ki67 labeling index (LI), and MDM2 expression. Forty-seven cases were included (13 WDL, 3 DDL, 7 ML, and 24 PL); 17 were MDM2-positive (13 WDL, 3DDL, and 1ML). Five were p53-positive (4 ML and 1 WDL) but DDL and PL were consistently negative. p53 expression correlated with higher Ki67-LI, higher MC, and myxoid histotype. No correlation was found with grade and MDM2 expression. Based on these results canine liposarcoma seems to embody a group of neoplasms whose subtypes, especially ML, may represent distinct diseases rather than morphological variants of the same entity.