Relevance of tumor angiogenesis in occurrence and development of breast cancer

Abstract

To detect the differential expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) count in benign and malignant breast lesions to clarify the correlation of VEGF expression with the occurrence and progression of breast cancer and angiogenesis. Immunohistochemistry (SP method) was used to examine the expression of VEGF and MVD count in 88 intra-operatively harvested samples of invasive ductal breast carcinoma, 25 samples of breast carcinoma in situ, 15 samples of atypical breast hyperplasia and 100 samples of benign breast lesions obtained. The positive rate of VEGF in invasive ductal breast carcinoma group was 70.5% and it was significantly higher than those of benign breast lesions, atypical breast hyperplasia and breast carcinoma in situ groups ( 22.0%, 33.3% and 56.0% respectively, P = 0.000). The positive rate of VEGF with lymph node metastasis was higher than that without lymph node metastasis (P = 0.015). The positive rate of VEGF in Stages II b- III was higher than that in Stages I - II a (P = 0.006). The positive rate of VEGF in C-erbB-2 positive group was higher than that in C-erbB-2 negative group (P = 0.016). An elevated expression of VEGF was observed as the tissue differentiation degree increased (P = 0.017). The MVD value of invasive ductal breast carcinoma group was 23 +/- 15 and it was significantly higher than those of benign breast lesions, atypical breast hyperplasia and breast carcinoma in situ groups (14 +/- 4, 18 +/- 4 and 20 +/- 6 respectively, P = 0.000). In invasive ductal breast carcinoma group, a significant higher MVD value was observed as the tissue differentiation degree increased (P = 0.006). The MVD value in VEGF positive group was higher than that in VEGF negative group (P = 0.000). In invasive ductal breast carcinoma, the MVD count increased significantly with the elevated expression of VEGF (P = 0.000). In invasive ductal breast carcinoma, angiogenesis and metastasis are mediated mainly by VEGF. The expressions of VEGF and MVD may be two of reference predictors for biological behaviors of breast carcinoma The occurrence and progression of breast cancer might be correlated with the expression of VEGF. The VEGF-targeting antiangiogenic therapy is expected to become a new therapeutic modality for C-erbB-2 positive patients.