Prognosis of breast-carcinoma lymphagenesis evaluated by immunohistochemical investigation of vascular-endothelial-growth-factor receptor 3.
Very few studies have yet addressed the question of the existence and role of lymphagenesis in tumor growth; it is generally overshadowed by the greater emphasis placed on the blood vascular system. Monoclonal antibodies against vascular endothelial-growth-factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3) have been shown to provide a specific antigenic marker for lymphatic endothelium. By comparison with the microvascular count (MVC), we investigated the prognostic value of the microlymphatic count (MLC) in a series of 60 cases of 2-cm-diameter breast carcinomas. The mean value of MVC was 72.5 and of MLC, 40.5. There was no quantitative correlation between these 2 parameters. The MVC but not the MLC had a prognostic value in overall survival. Neither the MLC nor the MVC had any correlation with axillary-lymph-node invasion.
Jacquemier
J
J
Pathology Department, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France. jacquemierj@marseille.fnclcc.fr
Mathoulin-Portier
M P
MP
Valtola
R
R
Charafe-Jauffret
E
E
Geneix
J
J
Houvenaeghel
G
G
Puig
B
B
Bardou
V J
VJ
Hassoun
J
J
Viens
P
P
Birnbaum
D
D
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D004729:Endothelium, Lymphatic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D016019:Survival Analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor