title: Evaluation of prognostic value of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in breast cancer--10 years follow-up analysis.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and VEGF-D expression in stage II, grade 2 and 3, ductal breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The immunohistochemical staining of 98 tumor samples and 5- and 10-year overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant relationship between VEGF-C and VEGF-D expression (p=0.000002) was noted. No correlations between protein expression and clinical parameters (tumor size, grade, estrogen receptor status, axillaty lymph node metastases and age) or 5- and 10-year DFS or OS were demonstrated. A close to significant correlation (p=0.084) was observed between high expression of VEGF-C and 5-year OS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study did not reveal any prognostic value of VEGF-C or VEGF-D. Therefore they are not useful as markers for patients with poor prognosis. Unlike in other studies, our patient group was homogenous which might have contributed to the results obtained.
authors: Department of Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University and Lower Silesian Oncology Center, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors: Iwona
authors: I
authors: Gisterek
authors: Rafał
authors: R
authors: Matkowski
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Koźlak
authors: Danuta
authors: D
authors: Duś
authors: Aleksandra
authors: A
authors: Lacko
authors: Jolanta
authors: J
authors: Szelachowska
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Kornafel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D