BACKGROUND: As angiogenesis is known to be a crucial factor in breast cancer growth, numerous studies have examined angiogenic markers in breast cancer. Their definite role, however, has not been fully elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated intratumoral microvessel density (MVD), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and its receptor flk-1, and serum VEGF in 46 patients with breast cancer prior to surgery. RESULTS: Median serum VEGF in patients with breast cancer was 257.5 pg/mL (range, 21.9 to 899.6). Serum VEGF showed a significant correlation with tumor stage, but not with lymph node involvement, histological grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor status. Increased MVD was associated with advanced tumor stage (p=0.05) and high tumor grade (p<0.001). A linear significant correlation between elevated serum VEGF and increased MVD was ascertained (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that angiogenesis as reflected by immunohistochemically-detected MVD and serum VEGF, is involved in breast cancer growth and lymphatic spread.
BACKGROUND: As angiogenesis is known to be a crucial factor in breast cancer growth, numerous studies have examined angiogenic markers in breast cancer. Their definite role, however, has not been fully elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated intratumoral microvessel density (MVD), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and its receptor flk-1, and serum VEGF in 46 patients with breast cancer prior to surgery. RESULTS: Median serum VEGF in patients with breast cancer was 257.5 pg/mL (range, 21.9 to 899.6). Serum VEGF showed a significant correlation with tumor stage, but not with lymph node involvement, histological grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor status. Increased MVD was associated with advanced tumor stage (p=0.05) and high tumor grade (p<0.001). A linear significant correlation between elevated serum VEGF and increased MVD was ascertained (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that angiogenesis as reflected by immunohistochemically-detected MVD and serum VEGF, is involved in breast cancer growth and lymphatic spread.
Authors: Katherine W Reeves; Roberta B Ness; Roslyn A Stone; Joel L Weissfeld; Victor G Vogel; Robert W Powers; Francesmary Modugno; Jane A Cauley Journal: Cancer Causes Control Date: 2008-11-06 Impact factor: 2.506
Authors: Anna Thielemann; Zygmunt Kopczyński; Violetta Filas; Jan Breborowicz; Sylwia Grodecka-Gazdecka; Aleksandra Baszczuk Journal: Pathol Oncol Res Date: 2008-04-09 Impact factor: 3.201