Co-expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and c-erbB2 in human breast carcinoma.
Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) has angiogenic and lymphangiogenic properties and is associated with the development of lymphatic metastases in a number of epithelial malignancies. The aim of this study was to determine VEGF-C protein expression in a series of breast carcinomas and correlate this with axillary lymph node (LN) metastases, the presence of lympho-vascular invasion (LVI), bone marrow micro-metastases (BMM) and other clinico-pathological data including oestrogen receptor (ER) and c-erbB2 status. VEGF-C expression was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 51 tumours. ER and c-erbB2 were also assessed by IHC. Bone marrow analysis was performed using a combination of immunomagnetic separation and immunocytochemistry. Overall, 30/51 (59%) of the tumours were positive for VEGF-C. There was no significant correlation between VEGF-C expression and LN status, LVI, BMM, tumour size, grade or ER status. However, there was an association between c-erbB2 and VEGF-C expression (P=0.013). The correlation between VEGF-C and c-erbB2 suggests a functional relationship and may, in part, explain the aggressive phenotype associated with c-erbB2-positive tumours.
Hoar
F J
FJ
Department of Surgery, City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, UK. fhoar@aol.com
Chaudhri
S
S
Wadley
M S
MS
Stonelake
P S
PS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019046:Bone Marrow Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C