Expression of biomolecular markers (Ki-67, PCNA, Bcl-2, BAX, BclX, VEGF) in breast tumors.

We carried out a retrospective immunohistochemical study of Ki-67, PCNA, Bcl-2, BAX, BclX, and VEGF expression in tumors of two groups of breast cancer patients with favorable and unfavorable course of the disease. Considerably enhanced VEGF expression was detected in tumors of patients with early relapses of breast cancer. High VEGF expression was paralleled by high level of Ki-67 and PCNA expression in tumors. It can be hypothesized that expression of VEGF, Ki-67, and PCNA in primary tumor can be used for predicting the course of breast cancer or detecting the patients at a high risk of early relapses.