Vascular density and the response of breast carcinomas to mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Using morphometric analysis of histological preparations, in a retrospective study vascular indices, expressing the extent of vascularisation, were determined for a number of mammary carcinomas. The indices were found to be related to the survival of the patients treated with modified radical mastectomy in combination with pre- and postoperative chemotherapy, the cases with low indices having the shorter survival. The impaired access of the cytotoxic agents to cells in the deficiently vascularised tumours was considered as an explanation. It was concluded that determination of vascular density in tumours may have a prognostic value in regard to the treatment response, and may be helpful in choosing the appropriate treatment.