EN
The study aimed at demonstration of involvement of CD8+ cells in protective mechanisms in canine mammary gland carcinomas. Material for the studies involved metastases to lungs sampled at autopsy from crossbreed bitches aged 11 to 13 years. The tumours were verified histopathologically as adenocarcinomas. The presence of CD8+ cells infiltrating the examined tumour tissues was estimated in cryo-sections by immunofluorescence methods. Parental tumours free of metastases were accompanied by slight infiltration of CD8+ cells. In the case of metastasing tumours, and especially in their pulmonary metastases, the increased number of CD8+ cells was observed. Taken together, metastasing potential of canine mammary adenocarcinomas was positively correlated with the number of CD8+ cells in the tumour stroma.