Prognosis of breast-carcinoma lymphagenesis evaluated by immunohistochemical investigation of vascular-endothelial-growth-factor receptor 3.

Very few studies have yet addressed the question of the existence and role of lymphagenesis in tumor growth; it is generally overshadowed by the greater emphasis placed on the blood vascular system. Monoclonal antibodies against vascular endothelial-growth-factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3) have been shown to provide a specific antigenic marker for lymphatic endothelium. By comparison with the microvascular count (MVC), we investigated the prognostic value of the microlymphatic count (MLC) in a series of 60 cases of 2-cm-diameter breast carcinomas. The mean value of MVC was 72.5 and of MLC, 40.5. There was no quantitative correlation between these 2 parameters. The MVC but not the MLC had a prognostic value in overall survival. Neither the MLC nor the MVC had any correlation with axillary-lymph-node invasion.