title: Comparison of microvessel density with tumor associated macrophages in invasive breast carcinoma.
abstract: Neovascularization, the growth and formation of capillary blood vessels, is an essential component of solid tumor growth and a critical step in metastasis. Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) have several functions related to tumor biology including growth, proliferative rate, stroma formation and dissolution, and neovascularization. The aim of this study was to define the TAM and microvessel density (MD) in human invasive breast carcinoma NOS and to correlate their values with lymph node status, tumor size, tumor grade and mitotic activity index (MAI), and, finally, to determine whether MD is connected with TAMs. A total number of 57 invasive breast carcinomas NOS were processed for immunohistochemical analysis using mAb to F-VIII to visualize endothelial cells and mAb to CD68 antigens for macrophages. Statistical analysis showed only a positive correlation between TAMs and MAI (p = 0.004). These results support the notion that intensity of tumor angiogenesis does not provide additional prognostic significance, while TAMs may play a positive role in breast cancer micro system since they regulate tumor proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jonjić
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valković
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lucin
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Iternicka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krstulja
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mustać
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dobi-Babić
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sasso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melato
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology*; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers