Microvessel density as a prognostic factor in women with breast cancer: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis.
We performed a meta-analysis of all 87 published studies linking intratumoral microvessel density (MVD), reflecting angiogenesis, to relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). With median MVD as cutoff, MVD impact was measured by risk ratio (RR) between the two survival distributions. Seventeen studies did not mention survival data or fit inclusion criteria. Twenty-two were multiple publications of the same series, leaving 43 independent studies (8936 patients). MVD was assessed by immunohistochemistry, using antibodies against factor VIII (27 studies; n = 5262), CD31 (10 studies; n = 2296), or CD34 (8 studies; n = 1726). MVD might be a better prognostic factor when assessed by CD31 or CD34 versus factor VIII (P = 0.11). For RFS, statistical calculations were performed in 25 studies (6501 patients). High MVD significantly predicted poor survival [RR = 1.54 for RFS and OS with the same 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.29-1.84]. Twenty-two studies analyzed separately lymph node-negative patients (n = 3580), for whom predictors of poor survival are requested. This latter meta-analysis included 15 studies for RFS (2727 patients) and 11 for OS (1926 patients). High MVD significantly predicted poor survival [RR = 1.99 for RFS (95% CI, 1.33-2.98) and RR = 1.54 for OS (95% CI, 1.01-2.33)]. Between-study variations could result from patient selection criteria, techniques to stain and count microvessels, and cutoff selection. MVD was a significant although weak prognostic factor in women with breast cancer. Standardization of MVD assessment is needed.
Uzzan
Bernard
B
Laboratoire de Pharmacologie. Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny, France.
Nicolas
Patrick
P
Cucherat
Michel
M
Perret
Gérard-Yves
GY
D036541:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase / Q000378:metabolism; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015996:Survival Rate
D015703:Antigens, CD; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D005169:Factor VIII; D036541:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase; C498154:CD38 protein, human; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1