Correlation of ultrasound features with the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, cyclooxygenase-2, metalloprotease-9 in breast cancer

Abstract

Objective By comparing with the relationship between important signs on ultrasound in breast cancer and the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), metalloprotease-9(MMP-9) biology, the relationship between molecular pathology and ultrasound features were studied, which provided a certain theoretical basis for the early diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of breast cancer patients. Methods 89 cases of breast lesions were confirmed by ultrasonic examination, operation and pathology. By using double-blind method, ultrasound features were grouped into burr, calcification, abnormal vascular, lymph node by physicians with rich breast diagnosis experience based on BI-RADS classification method.In each case, the expression of VEGF, COX-2, MMP-9 were detected by immunohistochemical SP method, then the relationship between the expression of VEGF, COX-2, MMP-9 and breast ultrasound features were analyzed. Results positive rate of protein expression of VEGF, COX-2, MMP-9 in burr syndrome group were higher than that of no-burr syndrome group (P 0.05) between the calcification group and no calcification group, higher in abnormal breast cancer group than that of no- abnormal blood vessels (P<0.05), higher in lymph node metastasis group than that of no-lymph node metastasis (P< 0.05). Conclusions The high expression of VEGF, COX-2, MMP-9 could have an influence on burr syndrome, abnormal blood vessels, lymph node metastasis in breast cancer ultrasound features, which could be used as a biological basis of malignant signs in ultrasound of breast cancer. And at the same time, it’s prompted that the breast cancer patients with ultrasound features is high in malignant degree and with poor prognosis. Key words: Breast cancer; Ultrasound features; vascular endothelial growth factor; cyclooxygenase-2; metalloprotease-9