Clinicopathological significance of vascular endothelial growth factor-C in breast carcinoma with long-term follow-up.
Expression of angiogenic and lymphangiogenic factors by tumors may influence the route of metastatic spread. The angiogenic factor vascular growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is implicated in the development of lymphatic vessels and promotion of lymphatic metastasis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether VEGF-C correlates with lymph node metastasis or prognosis. We assessed VEGF-C expression using immunohistochemistry in 123 invasive breast carcinomas with long-term follow-up. The relationship between VEGF-C expression and lymph node status and other established clinicopathological parameters was assessed. Whether VEGF-C expression plays a prognostic role in breast cancer was also investigated. VEGF-C expression was identified in 103 cases (83.7%). Positive VEGF-C was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0131). Survival curves determined by the Kaplan-Meier method and univariate analysis demonstrated that positive VEGF-C was associated with both disease-free survival (P = 0.0165) and overall survival (P = 0.0175). On the basis of our findings, VEGF-C plays a crucial role in lymph node metastasis and may be a significant prognostic factor for long-term survival in breast cancer.
Nakamura
Yasushi
Y
Second Department of Pathology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama City, Japan. ynakamur@mail.wakayama-med.ac.jp
Yasuoka
Hironao
H
Tsujimoto
Masahiko
M
Yang
Qifeng
Q
Tsukiyama
Ayumi
A
Imabun
Shigeru
S
Nakahara
Masaaki
M
Nakao
Kazuyasu
K
Nakamura
Misa
M
Mori
Ichiro
I
Kakudo
Kennichi
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C