Cell proliferation and vascularization in human breast carcinomas.
Cell proliferation and vascularization were studied in 10 human breast carcinomas by an immunoenzyme technique. The monoclonal antibody (MAb) Ki-67 was used as a marker for proliferating cells and a polyclonal antibody directed against human von-Willebrand factor to identify blood vessels. The proportion of Ki-67-labelled cells varied from 1% to 20%, the number of small blood vessels from 4.4/mm2 to 57.6/mm2. Within single histological sections of individual tumours the percentage of proliferating cells was not related to the number of small blood vessels. However, after evaluation of 5 sections of each tumour, the average values showed that tumours with a high grade of vascularization had a higher percentage of Ki-67-positive cells than poorly vascularized samples. The influence of vascular density on cell proliferation was investigated in a selected area of one of the tumours (in 2-dimensions) and with regard to the over- and underlying sections (in 3-dimensions). After 2-dimensional evaluation, distances from proliferating cells to the closest blood vessel between 10 and 390 microns were observed, and after 3-dimensional evaluation none of the proliferating cells measured was located more than 130 microns away from the closest vessel.
Monschke
F
F
Institut für Medizinische Strahlenbiologie, Universität Gesamthochschule Essen, Germany.
Müller
W U
WU
Winkler
U
U
Streffer
C
C
D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis
D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014841:von Willebrand Factor