Lymphangiogenic characteristics of triple negativity in node-negative breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Triple-negativity breast cancer (TNBC), being negative for the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor, and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, represents a subgroup of breast cancer with a poor clinical outcome. The aim of the study was to determine whether TNBC is associated with lymphangiogenesis in node-negative breast carcinomas.


METHODS
The authors investigated the clinicopathologic characteristics, lymphatic vessel density (LVD), and expression of 2 lymphangiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D), in 21 lymph node-negative TNBCs and 70 lymph node-negative non-TNBCs.


RESULTS
TNBC correlated with younger age (below 35 year) and higher histological grade. It also correlated with a higher intratumoral and peritumoral LVD, positive lymphatic invasion, and positive VEGF-C and VEGF-D expression.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, this study indicated a link between triple-negativity breast cancer and lymphangiogenesis. Lymphangiogenesis might help explain the special malignant phonotype of breast cancer, and lymphangiogenesis inhibitors might be a novel choice for triple-negativity breast cancer patients.
Liu
Huan-Tao
HT
Department of Breast Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China. htliu09@163.com
Ma
Rong
R
Yang
Qi-Feng
QF
Du
Gang
G
Zhang
Cui-Juan
CJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human