Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37727209›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in oncology2023

Cross-species evaluation of fibroblast activation protein alpha as potential imaging target for soft tissue sarcoma: a comparative immunohistochemical study in humans, dogs, and cats.

Patricia Beer, Chantal Pauli, Martina Haberecker, Paula Grest, Erin Beebe, Daniel Fuchs, Enni Markkanen, Christiane Krudewig, Mirja Christine Nolff

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in oncology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Evaluation of a targeted anti-αEuropean journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Patricia BeerClinic for Small Animal Surgery, Department for Small Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Chantal PauliDepartment of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Martina HabereckerDepartment of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Paula GrestInstitute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Erin BeebeInstitute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Daniel FuchsInstitute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Enni MarkkanenInstitute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Christiane KrudewigInstitute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Mirja Christine NolffClinic for Small Animal Surgery, Department for Small Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Complete surgical tumor resection is paramount in the management of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in humans, dogs, and cats alike. Near-infrared targeted tracers for fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) could facilitate intraoperative visualization of the tumor and improve resection accuracy. Target identification is complicated in STS due to the rarity and heterogeneity of the disease. This study aims to validate the expression of fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) in selected human, canine, and feline STS subtypes to assess the value of FAP as a target for FGS and to validate companion animals as a translational model. Methods: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 53 canine STSs (perivascular wall tumor (PWT), canine fibrosarcoma (cFS), and STS not further specified (NOS)), 24 feline fibrosarcomas, and 39 human STSs (myxofibrosarcoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor) as well as six canine and seven feline healthy controls and 10 inflamed tissue samples were immunohistochemically stained for their FAP expression. FAP labeling in tumor, peritumoral, healthy skin, and inflamed tissue samples was quantified using a visually assessed semiquantitative expression score and digital image analysis. Target selection criteria (TASC) scoring was subsequently performed as previously described. Results: Eighty-five percent (85%) of human (33/39), 76% of canine (40/53), and 92% of feline (22/24) STSs showed FAP positivity in over 10% of the tumor cells. A high expression was determined in 53% canine (28/53), 67% feline (16/24), and 44% human STSs (17/39). The average FAP-labeled area of canine, feline, and human STSs was 31%, 33%, and 42%, respectively ( Conclusion: This study represents the first cross-species target evaluation of FAP for STS. Our results demonstrate that FAP expression is increased in various STS subtypes compared to non-cancerous tissues across species, thereby validating dogs and cats as suitable animal models. Based on a TASC score, FAP could be considered a target for FGS.

Indexed as

animal modelsbiomarkercomparative oncologydigital pathologyfluorescence guided surgerymolecular imagingTASC-score

Identifiers

PMID37727209
PMCPMC10505752

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.