Immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p53 in breast lesions.
OBJECTIVE
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a leading factor for tumour angiogenesis and p53 protein is the product of a tumor suppressor gene. The main aim of the study was to assess the association of p53 protein with VEGF expression in breast carcinoma.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study involving 66 invasive breast carcinomas, 66 normal breast tissues and 55 cases of usual ductal hyperplasia (UDH), obtained from the histopathology records. The paraffin blocks were cut and processed by immunohistochemical technique using a monoclonal VEGF and a monoclonal p53 antibody.


RESULTS
VEGF positive staining was detected in 12 (18.2%) of the 66 cases of breast carcinoma and only 1 (1.8%) of UDH cases (p=0.004). Expression of p53 was positive in 33 (50%) of the 66 cases of carcinoma; whereas 8 cases of UDH (14.5%) were p53 protein positive (p<0.001). There was statistically significant associations between p53 expression and tumour size (p=0.018) and lymph node status (p=0.046). The VEGF and p53 expressions were negative in all normal breast tissues analyzed. Ten (83.3%) of 33 invasive carcinoma with p53 protein positive were VEGF positive, whereas 2 of 33 patients did not have p53 expression and were VEGF positive (p=0.011).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of p53 in invasive breast carcinoma had a significant correlation with the tumour size and lymph node metastasis. The evaluation of VEGF expression together with p53 protein may aid clinicians in effective management.
Noranizah
W
W
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Siti-Aishah
M A
MA
Munirah
M A
MA
Norazlin
M H
MH
Rohaizak
M
M
Naqiyah
I
I
Sharifah
N A
NA
Das
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055815:Young Adult
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A