[Immunohistochemical analysis of angiogenesis in invasive ductal breast carcinoma with correlations to clinicopathological factor].
OBJECTIVE
Angiogenesis is the formation of new vessels from preexisting ones. The aim of our study was to determine the relevance of tumor-induced angiogenesis, its correlation with some of the commonly used clinical, pathological factors and the recent biological indicators, and metastatic potential of the tumor in a series of 120 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.


METHODS
The identification of microvessels was performed immunohistochemically with factor VIII-related antigen. The microvessel count (MVC) was assessed at the invasive front of each carcinoma. The cases were divided into high-and low-microvessel density groups according to an average number of microvessels found in the multiple fields of the most vessel-dense part of each tumor. The nuclear immunohistochemical staining for hormone receptors, and the p53, and the membranous staining for c-erbB-2 were evalueted.


RESULTS
There were significant correlations between a high MVC and a large tumor size, high histological grade, and c-erbB-2 protein overexpression. There was no association between tumor angiogenesis, as assessed by the MVC, and the hormone receptors status, and the p53 protein expression. In the cases with a high MVC, there was a significant number of tumors with lymph node metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings showed that a high MVC might point out an aggressive tumor phenotype. This might help to stratify patients for an appropriate therapy on an individual basis and, thus, offer the possibility of a more effectively tailored treatment program.
Ivković-Kapicl
Tatjana
T
Institut za onkologiju Sremska Kamenica, Klinika za operativnu onkologiju, Odeljenje za patologiju, Novi Sad. kapicl@Eunet.yu
Knelević-Usaj
Slavica
S
Panjković
Milana
M
Mastilović
Katarina
K
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor