Decreased angiogenic activity in breast cancer in ever-users of oral contraceptive therapy--preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
Angiogenic activity defined by microvessel density or measurement of vascular endothelial growth factor is a key process under physiological and malignant conditions in steroid hormone responding organs. The aim of this study was to relate microvessel density (MVD) in primary breast cancer to reproductive data and use of exogenous hormones.


METHODS
MVD was calculated retrospectively in forty-two consecutive tumours and related to clinical, histopathological and gynecological data.


RESULTS
Tumours in ever-users of oral contraceptive therapy (OC) had lower MVD (p = 0.002), a finding not explained by smaller tumour size or lower histological grade. There was no influence on MVD by other reproductive data.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary data on a supposed interaction between the use of OC and angiogenesis in breast cancer indicate that biological properties in breast tumours may be altered by ever-use of OC, but have to be further explored in an extended number of patients.
Rydén
Lisa
L
Department of Surgery, Helsingborg Hospital, S-251 87 Helsingborg, Sweden. lisa.ryden@helsingborgslasarett.se
Boiesen
Poul
P
Jönsson
Per-Ebbe
PE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D010298:Parity; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal