title: Serum tryptase, mast cells positive to tryptase and microvascular density evaluation in early breast cancer patients: possible translational significance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tryptase is a serine protease released from mast cells that plays a role in tumor angiogenesis. In this study we aimed to evaluate serum tryptase levels in 105 female early breast cancer patients before (STLBS) and after (STLAS) radical surgical resection, mast cell density positive to tryptase (MCDPT) and microvascular density (MVD).
  
  
  METHODS
  STLBS and STLAS were assessed using the UniCAP Tryptase Fluoroenzyme immunoassay. Tumor sections were immunostained with a primary anti-tryptase antibody and an anti-CD-34 antibody by means of immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ± 1 standard deviation STLBS and STLAS was 7.18 ± 2.63 μg/L, and 5.13 ± 2.21 respectively and a significant difference between mean levels was found (p = 0.0001) by student t-test. A strong correlation between STLBS and MVD (r = 0.81, p = 0.0001); STLBS and MCDPT (r = 0.69, p = 0.003); and MCDPT and MVD (r = 0.77; p = 0.0001) was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results demonstrated higher STLBS in breast cancer patients, indicating an involvement of MC tryptase in breast cancer angiogenesis. Therefore, serum tryptase levels may play a role as a novel surrogate angiogenic marker predictive of response to radical surgery in breast cancer patients. In this patients setting, it's intriguing to hypothesize that tryptase inhibitors might be evaluated in clinical trials.
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Marech
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Ammendola
authors: Rosario
authors: R
authors: Sacco
authors: Gennaro Stefano
authors: GS
authors: Capriuolo
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Patruno
authors: Rosangela
authors: R
authors: Rubini
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Luposella
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Zuccalà
authors: Eufemia
authors: E
authors: Savino
authors: Cosmo Damiano
authors: CD
authors: Gadaleta
authors: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy. domenico.ribatti@uniba.it.
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Ribatti
authors: Girolamo
authors: G
authors: Ranieri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical; D053802:Tryptases / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D053802:Tryptases