Correlation between VEGF Expression and Prognostic Factors in Breast Cancer.
- Author:
Jung Eun JANG
1
;
Sang Yun CHOI
;
Chan Hyung PARK
;
Young Hyeh KO
;
Ki Hyun KIM
;
Hyun Sik JEONG
;
Kwang Sung AHN
;
Jung Hyun YANG
;
Seok Jin NAM
;
Sung Soo YOON
Author Information
1. Center for Clinical Research, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
VEGF;
Breast cancer;
Prognosis
- MeSH:
Breast Neoplasms*;
Breast*;
Humans;
Lymph Nodes;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Paraffin;
Prognosis;
Recurrence;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
- From:Journal of the Korean Cancer Association
1999;31(3):483-491
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Archival tissues of breast cancer patients were examined for VEGF expression to evaluate the relationship with other clinicopathologic factors and prognostic significance of VEGF in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Paraffin sections from 76 patients with invasive breast cancer who have been treated at Samsung Medical Center from December, 1994 to April, 1998 were examined for VEGF expression by immunohistochemical staining using anti-VEGF antibody. We analyzed relationships between VEGF expression and tumor size, tumor stage, metastasis, steroid honnone receptors, p53, disease recurrence and survival. RESULTS: Immunostaining showed variable VEGF positivity in the malignant cells and VEGF was detected more frequently in tumors than in adjacent non-tumorous breast tissues. 74 out of 76 (97.4%) was positive for VEGF. We found that the expression of VEGF was strongly correlated with the stages of breast tumor (P=0.020), lymph node metastasis (P=0.043) and PR (P=0.016). However, we could not find statistically significant relationship between VEGF expression and tumor size, ER, p53 and distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: VEGF may be a useful prognostic indicator in patients with breast cancer, especially correlated with tumor stage and lymph node metastasis. This result warrants further study to confirm our findings.
