J Vet Sci.  2019 Sep;20(5):e53. 10.4142/jvs.2019.20.e53.

Elevated plasma YKL-40 level is found in the dogs with cancer and is related to poor prognosis

• Cheng KC
• Lee JJ
• Wang SL
• Lin CY
• Tseng CT
• Lin CS
• Liao AT

• KMID: 2464099
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2019.20.e53

Abstract

YKL-40, a secreted glycoprotein, may serve as an autoantigen, which mediates multiple inflammatory diseases and cancers. A high YKL-40 serum level is correlated with metastasis and poor survival in a variety of human cancers. However, the role of YKL-40 in dogs is still under evaluation. Herein, we examined the associations between plasma YKL-40 level and YKL-40 autoantibody (YAA) titers with malignancy and prognosis in canine cancer. Plasma levels of YKL-40 in healthy dogs (n = 20) and in dogs (n = 82) with cancer were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results indicated that plasma YKL-40 levels were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in dogs with cancer than in healthy dogs. A significant decrease in the YAA titers was detected in the dogs with cancer when compared with those of the healthy dogs (p < 0.05), although the change was not correlated with the YKL-40 levels. Among the dogs with cancer, plasma YKL-40 levels in the dogs that later relapsed or had metastasis were significantly higher than in the dogs with no signs of relapse (p < 0.01) or metastasis (p <0.05). The relapse and metastasis rates were significantly higher in the high YKL-40 group (> 180 pg/mL) than in the low YKL-40 group (< 180 pg/mL). The results imply that plasma YKL-40 levels might have the potential to be developed as a marker of malignancy progression and prognosis in canine cancers.

Keyword

YKL-40; autoantibodies; autoantigens; canine cancer; prognosis

MeSH Terms

Animals
Autoantibodies
Autoantigens
Dogs*
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Glycoproteins
Humans
Neoplasm Metastasis
Plasma*
Prognosis*
Recurrence
Autoantibodies
Autoantigens
Glycoproteins