Tryptase-positive mast cells correlate with angiogenesis in early breast cancer patients.
Literature data indicate that mast cells (MCs) are involved in tumor angiogenesis due to the release of several pro-angiogenetic factors among which tryptase, a serine protease stored in MCs granules, is one of the most active. However, no data are available concerning the role of MCs in angiogenesis in primary human breast cancer. In this study, we have evaluated the correlations between the number of MCs positive to tryptase (MCDPT), the area occupied by MCs positive to tryptase (MCAPT) and microvascular density (MVD) and endothelial area (EA) in a series of 88 primary T1-3, N0-2 M0 female breast cancer, by means of immunohistochemistry and image analysis methods. Data demonstrated a significant (r = from 0.78 to 0.89; p-value from 0.001 to 0.002 by Pearson's analysis respectively) correlation between MCDPT, MCAPT, MVD, EA to each other. No correlation concerning MCDPT, MCAPT, MVD, EA and the main clinicopathological features was found. Our results suggest that tryptase-positive MCs play a role in breast cancer angiogenesis. In this context several tryptase inhibitors such as gabexate mesilate and nafamostat mesilate might be evaluated in clinical trials as a new anti-angiogenetic approach.
Ranieri
Girolamo
G
Department of Critical Area and Surery, National Cancer Institute Giovanni Paolo II, 70126 Bari, Italy. giroran@tiscalinet.it
Ammendola
Michele
M
Patruno
Rosa
R
Celano
Giuseppe
G
Zito
Francesco Alfredo
FA
Montemurro
Severino
S
Rella
Addolorata
A
Di Lecce
Valentina
V
Gadaleta
Cosmo Damiano
CD
Battista De Sarro
Giovanni
G
Ribatti
Domenico
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D053802:Tryptases / Q000032:analysis*
D053802:Tryptases