Preoperative assessment of tumor angiogenesis by vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA expression in homogenate samples of breast carcinoma: fine-needle aspirates vs. resection samples.
OBJECTIVE
Tumor angiogenesis is receiving increased attention as a prognostic factor and also as a possible target for new anticancer agents. We investigated whether extent of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression correlated with degree of neovascularization, and whether this expression in fine-needle aspirates could be a marker for assessing angiogenic potential of breast tumors.


METHODS
VEGF mRNA expression was semiquantitated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern blotting. Tumor neovascularization was assessed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD31 (PECAM) antibody.


RESULTS
There was a positive correlation between degree of neovascularization and semiquantitated VEGF mRNA expression in invasive ductal carcinomas (r2 = 0.346, n = 48, P < 0.05). Extent of VEGF mRNA expression in fine-needle aspirates was closely correlated with that in resected invasive ductal carcinomas equal to or less than 3 cm in size (r2 = 0.874, n = 14, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that semiquantitation of VEGF mRNA expression in fine-needle aspirates is useful for assessing angiogenic potential of invasive ductal carcinomas.
Anan
K
K
First Department of Surgery, Kyushu University Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.
Morisaki
T
T
Katano
M
M
Ikubo
A
A
Tsukahara
Y
Y
Uchiyama
A
A
Kuroki
S
S
Tanaka
M
M
Torisu
M
M
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D001940:Breast / Q000737:chemistry*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000601:surgery; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000601:surgery; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors