Relationship between peritumoral lymphatic microvessel density and the clinical and pathological characteristics of invasive breast cancer

Abstract

Abstract Objective The aim of the study was to determine the morphological characteristics of lymphatic microvessels and the relationship between lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) and clinical and pathological characteristics of invasive breast cancer. Methods Tissue specimens and clinical pathological data of 51 cases of female breast cancer were collected in the General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region (Shenyang, China) from January 2007 to October 2011. Another 20 breast fibroadenoma tissue samples were used as controls. All specimens were cut into 4-μm slices, and immunohistochemically stained using streptomycin-resistant avidin peroxidase antibody D2-40. SPSS 17.0 for Windows was used to perform all analyses. Results A total of 38 breast cancer tissue specimens showed varied staining with monoclonal antibody D2-40. The rate of positive staining was in these tissues was 74.5% (38/51), which is significantly higher than that observed in breast fibroadenoma tissues (chi-square = 35.197, P = 0.000). The average LMVD in 38 cases of breast cancer was (26.46 ± 10.06) microvessels/100× magnification field, which was higher than that in the control group (t = 10.74, P = 0.000). Microvessels in peritumoral tissues were abundant, with an average LMVD of (38.42 ± 11.38) microvessels/100× magnification field. Based on layered analysis, the expression level of peritumoral LMVD was correlated with metastasis of lymph nodes, tumor size, and the expression of C-erbB-2 (P < 0.05); however, there was no correlation with age or expression of estrogen receptors or progesterone receptors (P > 0.05). Conclusion Lymphatic microvessels detected using D2-40 antibody are mainly present in the peritumoral region of breast cancer tissues, and LMVD showed a correlation with lymph node metastasis and the expression of C-erbB-2. Positive lymphatic vessels, especially in the peritumoral region, may provide a path for lymphatic metastasis in breast cancer. Peritumoral LMVD may be used to estimate the prognosis of patients with breast cancer and may aid in research on treatment methods.