title: Breast Angiosarcoma: Case Series and Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.
abstract: PURPOSE: Angiosarcoma of the breast is a rare, malignant tumor for which little is known regarding prognostic indicators and optimal therapeutic regimens. To address this issue, we performed a retrospective analysis of breast angiosarcoma cases seen at Stanford University along with immunohistochemical analysis for markers of angiogenesis. METHODS: Breast angiosarcoma cases seen between 1980 and 2008 were examined. Viable tissue blocks were analyzed for expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors. RESULTS: A total of 16 cases were identified. Data was collected regarding epidemiology, treatment, response rates, disease-free survival, and the use of various imaging modalities. Five tissue blocks remained viable for immunohistochemical analysis. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A was positively expressed in 3 of these samples. CONCLUSION: Angiosarcoma of the breast is an aggressive malignancy with a propensity for both local recurrence and distant metastases. Angiogenesis inhibition may represent a novel therapeutic modality in this rare, vascular malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, Calif., USA.
authors.forename: Rondeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brar
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Witten
authors.forename: Bhargav
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ganjoo