title: Expression of Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α and vascular endothelial growth factor-C in locally advanced breast cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Locally advanced breast cancers are more prevalent in underdeveloped countries. Targeted therapy has been improved to identify hallmarks that are specific to these subtypes of tumors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to prospectively assess the expression of Hypoxia inducible factor-1 α and vascular endothelial growth factor-C in locally advanced breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty women underwent incisional biopsies for the histopathological diagnosis of breast carcinoma and participated in neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The association of Hypoxia inducible factor-1 α and vascular endothelial growth factor-C with age, tumor size, histological grade, clinical staging, hormonal and axillary status, clinical and pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and the presence of c-erbB-2 antigen was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypoxia inducible factor-1 α expression and Vascular endothelial growth factor-C expression were observed in 66.7% and 63.3% of all patients, respectively, and were marginally associated with each other (p = 0.06). Among the studied variables, only positive axillary status was associated with the presence of HIF-1α (p = 0.02). Complete pathological response was significantly associated (p = 0.04) with the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that Hypoxia inducible factor-1 α was associated with a poor prognosis and that vascular endothelial growth factor-C could be used as a predictive factor in locally advanced breast cancer patients with complete pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo University, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. lgobrito@gmail.com
authors.forename: Luiz Gustavo Oliveira
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Viviane Fernandes
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Schiavon
authors.forename: Jurandyr Moreira de
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Daniel Guimarães
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Tiezzi
authors.forename: Fernanda Maris
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Peria
authors.forename: Heitor Ricardo Cosiski
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Marana
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C