The correlation between immunohistochemically-detected markers of angiogenesis and serum vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
As angiogenesis is known to be a crucial factor in breast cancer growth, numerous studies have examined angiogenic markers in breast cancer. Their definite role, however, has not been fully elucidated.


METHODS
We investigated intratumoral microvessel density (MVD), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and its receptor flk-1, and serum VEGF in 46 patients with breast cancer prior to surgery.


RESULTS
Median serum VEGF in patients with breast cancer was 257.5 pg/mL (range, 21.9 to 899.6). Serum VEGF showed a significant correlation with tumor stage, but not with lymph node involvement, histological grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor status. Increased MVD was associated with advanced tumor stage (p=0.05) and high tumor grade (p<0.001). A linear significant correlation between elevated serum VEGF and increased MVD was ascertained (p=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggested that angiogenesis as reflected by immunohistochemically-detected MVD and serum VEGF, is involved in breast cancer growth and lymphatic spread.
Lantzsch
Tilmann
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany. tilmann.lantzsch@medizin.uni-halle.de
Hefler
Lukas
L
Krause
Ulf
U
Kehl
Alexandra
A
Goepel
Christiiian
C
Koelbl
Heinz
H
Dunst
Juergen
J
Lampe
Dieter
D
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016014:Linear Models; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor