title: Expression of VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) in breast cancer is associated with VEGF expression and with node-negative tumour stage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes breast cancer progression by inducing angiogenesis via VEGF receptors on endothelial cells but also signals directly through receptors such as VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) expressed on tumour cells. The impact of autocrine signalling loops on treatment with VEGF inhibitors is still unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six breast cancer cell lines were tested for expression of VEGFR-1 by RT-PCR and Western blot. To assess clinical significance, 93 breast cancer lesions were evaluated for expression of VEGF and VEGFR-1 by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGFR-1 mRNA was found in all 6 cell lines, while protein expression was found in 5 cell lines. VEGF was expressed in 60% and VEGFR-1 in 39% of breast cancer specimens. VEGFR-1 expression was associated with VEGF expression and with node-negative tumour stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that analysis of VEGF/VEGFR-1 expression might be relevant in identifying patients with different response rates upon treatment with antiangiogenic agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Wuerzburg, Germany. melanie_weigand@hotmail.de
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Hans-Ullrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Voelker
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapp
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dietl
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kammerer
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1