Peritumoral Lymphangiogenesis in Breast Carcinoma

Abstract

Objective: to assess the correlation between microscopically discernible peritumoral lymphangiogenesis and breast carcinoma survival rates; to reveal the regularities of macroscopic changes in the structure of axillary lymphatic system in breast cancer. Materials and Methods: We carried out morphometric examination of axillary tissue complexes that had been taken from 100 women during surgery for breast carcinoma, stage T1-3N1-2M0 and had been treated with sonolipodistruction. The density of realized lymphatic vessels was determined by counting the number of lymphangiogenesis "points". An anastomosis between individual lymphatic vessels was taken as a "point". Correlation of macroscopically distinguishable peritumoral lymphangiogenesis expression and survival rate was determined using Pearson's parametric analysis. Results: The analysis of lymphatic maps allowed us to reveal some patterns of axillary lymphatic collector reorganization in breast carcinoma and to distinguish the following types: "Sequential", "Magistral", "Uniform", "Radial" and "Reticulate". Based on the results of prospective observation, 16 patients from the observation group died within the period of 5 years. According to the Pearson correlation analysis, the correlation coefficient was 0,87, the determination coefficient was 0,7488, the value of p = 0,000015, which indicates that in the breast carcinoma, stage T1-3 N1-2 M0 there is a statistically significant direct correlation between the number of "points" of macroscopically distinguishable peritumoral lymphangiogenesis and lifespan after a radical surgical treatment. Lymphatic vessels in the process of peritumoral lymphangiogenesis are the indicator of compensatory-protective resources condition.