BACKGROUND: Although the prognostic value of microvessel density (MVD) has been studied in breast cancer, the results still remain controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Paraffin embedded sections of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast were immunohistochemically stained for factor VIII- related antigen in 252 patients with a median follow-up duration of 7.0 years. MVD quantification of the three most vascular areas at a magnification of x 200 was performed. RESULTS: The 252 patients were stratified into high and low MVD groups according to a cut-off value that was the upper one-third MVD value of all patients. The patients with a high MVD had a significantly worse outcome in terms of both disease free survival (DFS) (p< 0.0001) and overall survival (OS) (p= 0.0012) compared with those with a low MVD. The same effects were seen in patients with lymph node negative as well as positive breast cancer. Multivariate analyses indicated the nodal status, nuclear grade and MVD (p= 0.0001) to be independent prognostic factors for the DFS, while the nodal status, estrogen receptor status, tumor size and MVD (p= 0.0006) were independent prognostic factors for the OS. CONCLUSION: MVD was found to be an independent prognostic indicator of recurrence and death for breast cancer, and is therefore considered to be a useful factor for selecting high risk patients to receive adjuvant therapies.
BACKGROUND: Although the prognostic value of microvessel density (MVD) has been studied in breast cancer, the results still remain controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Paraffin embedded sections of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast were immunohistochemically stained for factor VIII- related antigen in 252 patients with a median follow-up duration of 7.0 years. MVD quantification of the three most vascular areas at a magnification of x 200 was performed. RESULTS: The 252 patients were stratified into high and low MVD groups according to a cut-off value that was the upper one-third MVD value of all patients. The patients with a high MVD had a significantly worse outcome in terms of both disease free survival (DFS) (p< 0.0001) and overall survival (OS) (p= 0.0012) compared with those with a low MVD. The same effects were seen in patients with lymph node negative as well as positive breast cancer. Multivariate analyses indicated the nodal status, nuclear grade and MVD (p= 0.0001) to be independent prognostic factors for the DFS, while the nodal status, estrogen receptor status, tumor size and MVD (p= 0.0006) were independent prognostic factors for the OS. CONCLUSION: MVD was found to be an independent prognostic indicator of recurrence and death for breast cancer, and is therefore considered to be a useful factor for selecting high risk patients to receive adjuvant therapies.
Authors: Patricia E Ellis; Allan B Maclean; L F Wong Te Fong; Julie C Crow; Christopher W Perrett Journal: J Oncol Date: 2012-03-26 Impact factor: 4.375
Authors: Anna V Britto; André A Schenka; Natália G Moraes-Schenka; Marcelo Alvarenga; Júlia Y Shinzato; José Vassallo; Laura S Ward Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2009-04-08 Impact factor: 4.430
Authors: T Kato; G Steers; L Campo; H Roberts; R D Leek; H Turley; T Kimura; S Kameoka; T Nishikawa; M Kobayashi; A L Harris; K C Gatter; F Pezzella Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2007-10-09 Impact factor: 7.640