title: Significant correlation of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression with neovascularization and progression of breast carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Macrophages often infiltrate into solid tumor tissues. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are known to play a crucial role in tumor progression. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is one of the major chemokines capable of inducing chemotactic migration of monocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the objective of investigating the clinical significance of MCP-1, the authors analyzed the expression of MCP-1 and of some other molecules by immunohistochemistry in 230 samples of primary breast carcinoma tissue. MCP-1 staining was performed using an anti-MCP-1 monoclonal antibody, and it was assessed by grading the percentage of stained cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that 117 breast tumor specimens (51%) had intensive staining in tumor cells. The expression of MCP-1 in tumor cells had a significant correlation with the expression of thymidine phosphorylase and membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase. In addition, MCP-1 expression tended to be associated with the accumulation of TAMs, which were counted by CD68 staining, and with microvessel density. MCP-1 expression in TAMs was correlated significantly with the histologic vessel invasion of tumor cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that MCP-1 may play key roles in macrophage recruitment, in the expression of angiogenic factors, and in the activation of matrix metalloproteinases in patients with breast carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Breast Oncology Unit, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saji
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamori
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saji
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seiki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsushima
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toi
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone