Digital microscopy assessment of angiogenesis in different breast cancer compartments.
OBJECTIVE
Tumour angiogenesis defined by microvessel density (MVD) is generally accepted as a prognostic factor in breast cancer. However, due to variability of measurement systems and cutoffs, it is questionable to date whether it contributes to predictive outline. Our study aims to grade vascular heterogeneity by comparing clear-cut compartments: tumour associated stroma (TAS), tumour parenchyma, and tumour invasive front.


METHODS
Computerized vessel area measurement was performed using a tissue cytometry system (TissueFAXS) on slides originated from 50 patients with breast cancer. Vessels were marked using immunohistochemistry with CD34. Regions of interest were manually defined for each tumour compartment.


RESULTS
Tumour invasive front vascular endothelia area was 2.15 times higher than that in tumour parenchyma and 4.61 times higher than that in TAS (P < 0.002). Worth to mention that the lymph node negative subgroup of patients show a slight but constant increase of vessel index in all examined compartments of breast tumour.


CONCLUSIONS
Whole slide digital examination and region of interest (ROI) analysis are a valuable tool in scoring angiogenesis markers and disclosing their prognostic capacity. Our study reveals compartments' variability of vessel density inside the tumour and highlights the propensity of invasive front to associate an active process of angiogenesis with potential implications in adjuvant therapy.
Emergency Medicine Department, Gr. T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania ; Emergency Medicine Department, Saint Spiridon Hospital, 700115 Iasi, Romania.
Anca
A
Haisan
Radu
R
Rogojanu
Camelia
C
Croitoru
Daniela
D
Jitaru
Cristina
C
Tarniceriu
Mihai
M
Danciu
Eugen
E
Carasevici
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology
D018952:Antigens, CD34