[Correlation analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor-C expression and clinicopathology in breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), C-erbB-2, p53, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR) in breast cancer tissue and their clinical significance.


METHODS
The expressions of C-erbB-2, p53, ER, and PR in 60 breast cancer tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry, and their clinical significance was analyzed.


RESULTS
The positivity rates of VEGF-C, C-erbB-2, p53, ER, and PR in the 60 breast cancer tissues were 56.7%, 38.3%, 46.7%, 48.3% and 53.3%, respectively. The expressions of VEGF-C and C-erbB-2 differed significantly in relation to the lymph node status (P<0.05), but not to the patient's age or tumor volume (P>0.05). The expression of VEGF-C was positively correlated to that of C-erbB-2 (P<0.05). The expression of p53 was positively correlated to the tumor volume (P<0.05). The expressions of ER and PR were not correlated to the patient's age, tumor volume and lymph node status (P>0.05), but were inversely correlated to C-erbB-2 expression (P<0.05) independent of VEGF-C and p53 expressions (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The high expressions of VEGF-C and C-erbB-2 are closely related to lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients, and may cooperate in promoting lymph node metastasis of breast carcinoma. Combined detection of VEGF-C, C-erbB-2, p53, ER and PR may help clinical treatment and prognostic evaluation of breast cancer patients.
Fu
Jian-Min
JM
Department of Breast Surgery, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen 518048, China. jmfu2000@yahoo.com.cn
Shi
Jian
J
Zhou
Jie
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*
D011374:Progesterone; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; C467486:VEGFC protein, human