N-Cadherin-Mediated Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition as a Prognostic Indicator in Canine Melanoma

Canine melanoma is a relatively common and clinically significant neoplasm in veterinary oncology, with important prognostic implications. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), associated with changes in cell adhesion and increased metastatic potential, remains poorly characterized in this tumor type. We evaluated E-cadherin and N-cadherin expression in 32 primary canine melanomas and their regional lymph nodes, assessing associations with tumor progression and survival. Regional lymph node metastases were observed in 53% of cases. High N-cadherin expression in primary tumors correlated with metastasis and reduced survival, while E-cadherin expression showed no difference between metastatic and non-metastatic tumors. Notably, metastatic primary tumors exhibited a positive correlation between E- and N-cadherin expression. These results indicate that N-cadherin is a potential prognostic marker; and highlight the need for further studies on EMT as a therapeutic target to control metastasis.