Evaluation of protein pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and microvessel density (MVD) as prognostic indicators in breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Angiogenesis, which plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis, is regulated by a balance between angiogenic stimulators and inhibitors. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a secreted glycoprotein is an important inhibitor of angiogenesis. Although the precise mechanisms by which PEDF exerts its actions remain poorly understood, there is growing evidence supporting the role of PEDF as a candidate antitumor agent. In this study, we investigated the role of PEDF in breast cancer.


METHODS
We investigated the correlation of PEDF protein levels with cancer progression and prognosis in patients with invasive ductal breast cancer (IDC). We used immunohistochemistry in a cohort of 119 breast cancer patients to examine the expression of PEDF protein with an anti-PEDF antibody and to measure the microvessel density (MVD) with an anti-CD34 antibody.


RESULTS
PEDF was an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis in endothelial cells. Decreased intratumoral expression of PEDF was associated with a higher microvessel density (MVD), a more metastatic phenotype, and poorer clinical outcome. PEDF was positive in 43.7% patients. Patients with low PEDF expression had a significantly higher MVD count when compared with patients with high PEDF expression. In univariate and multivariate analysis, PEDF was an independent prognostic factor.


CONCLUSIONS
The inverse correlation between PEDF expression and MVD in human breast cancer suggests that low PEDF expression is associated with angiogenesis in breast cancer. PEDF expression is therefore a potentially useful prognostic marker for breast cancer.
Zhou
Dan
D
Department of Breast Surgery, Tumor Hospital, Harbin Medical University, 158 HaPing Road, Harbin 150081, China.
Cheng
Shao-Qiang
SQ
Ji
Hong-Fei
HF
Wang
Jin-Song
JS
Xu
Hai-Tao
HT
Zhang
Guo-Qiang
GQ
Pang
Da
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D015843:Serpins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
D005136:Eye Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D015843:Serpins; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor