Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor D is associated with hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1alpha) and the HIF-1alpha target gene DEC1, but not lymph node metastasis in primary human breast carcinomas.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) induces angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Nodal metastasis is recognised as a powerful prognostic marker in breast carcinoma, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are unknown. Although it has been suggested that VEGF-D may regulate nodal metastasis, this is based largely on animal models, its role in human disease being unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To measure the pattern and degree of VEGF-D protein expression in normal and neoplastic human breast tissues.


METHODS
The pattern and degree of VEGF-D expression was measured in normal tissue and invasive carcinomas, and expression was correlated with clinicopathological parameters, hypoxia markers, and survival. Because other VEGF family members are affected by oestrogen, whether VEGF-D is regulated by oestrogen in breast cancer cell lines was also assessed.


RESULTS
VEGF-D was significantly positively associated with hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1alpha) (p = 0.03) and the HIF-1alpha regulated gene DEC1 (p = 0.001), but not lymph node status, the number of involved lymph nodes, patient age, tumour size, tumour grade, lymphovascular invasion, oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, c-erb-B2, or tumour histology (all p>0.05). There was no significant relation between tumour VEGF-D expression and relapse free (p = 0.78) or overall (p = 0.94) survival. VEGF-D expression was enhanced by oestrogen in MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells, and was blocked by hydroxytamoxifen.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support a role for hypoxia and oestrogen induced VEGF-D in human breast cancer and also suggest that tamoxifen and related oestrogen antagonists may exert some of their antitumour effects through the abrogation of VEGF-D induced function.
Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Christchurch 8001, New Zealand.
M J
MJ
Currie
V
V
Hanrahan
S P
SP
Gunningham
H R
HR
Morrin
C
C
Frampton
C
C
Han
B A
BA
Robinson
S B
SB
Fox
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000737:chemistry; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000032:analysis*
C403671:DELEC1 protein, human; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; D013629:Tamoxifen; C016601:afimoxifene; D004958:Estradiol