Comparison of three vascular endothelial markers in the evaluation of microvessel density in breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the microvessel density by comparing the performance of anti-factor VIII-related antigen, anti-CD31 and anti-CD34 monoclonal antibodies in breast cancer.


METHODS
Twenty-three postmenopausal women diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer submitted to definitive surgical treatment were evaluated. The monoclonal antibodies used were anti-factor VIII, anti-CD31 and anti-CD34. Microvessels were counted in the areas of highest microvessel density in ten random fields (200 x). The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test (p < 0.05).


RESULTS
Mean microvessel densities with anti-factor VIII, anti-CD31 and anti-CD34 were 4.16 +/- 0.38, 4.09 +/- 0.23 and 6.59 +/- 0.42, respectively. Microvessel density as assessed by anti-CD34 was significantly greater than that detected by anti-CD31 or anti-factor VIII (p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between anti-CD31 and anti-factor VIII (p = 0.4889).


CONCLUSIONS
The density of stained microvessels was greater and staining was more intense with anti-CD34 compared to anti-CD31 and anti-factor VIII-related antigen.
da Silva
B B
BB
Department of Gynecology, Mastology Division, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. beneditoborges@globo.com
Lopes-Costa
P V
PV
dos Santos
A R
AR
de Sousa-Júnior
E C
EC
Alencar
A P
AP
Pires
C G
CG
Rosal
M A
MA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014841:von Willebrand Factor