The effect of raloxifene on vascular endothelial growth factor expression in breast carcinomas of postmenopausal women.

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Abstract Abstract #1031 Background: To evaluate the effect of raloxifene on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in breast carcinomas of postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: Sixteen postmenopausal patients with operable stage II, estrogen receptor-positive, infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma were treated with raloxifene at the dose of 60 mg/day for a period of 28 days prior to definitive surgery. Tumor size varied from 3 to 5 cm (mean 3.7 cm) and the mean age of patients was 61.8 years (range 49-72 years). Tumor samples were obtained by incisional biopsy at the time of diagnosis and again at the time of definitive surgical treatment. VEGF expression was obtained by immunohistochemistry (primary anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, IgG, C-1, sc-7269, 200 mg/ml, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, USA). Evaluation of VEGF expression was assessed semiquantitatively based on the fraction of stained tumor cells and on the intensity of staining. McNemar's test of symmetry was used to evaluate agreement between the positive or negative classification of VEGF expression prior to and following raloxifene treatment (p<0.05). Results: Fourteen of the 16 patients (88%) were classified as positive for VEGF expression prior to raloxifene treatment, while only 5 (31%) were classified as positive following treatment (p<0.007) (see Figure 1 and Table 1).[figure1] 
 
 Discussion: The results of the present study show that raloxifene reduced VEGF expression in breast cancer in postmenopausal women, thus suggesting that the drug may reduce neovascularization and the growth of estrogen receptor-positive breast tumors and reinforcing the argument for its possible use both in chemoprevention and in the treatment of breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 1031.