Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C in Breast Carcinoma.
- Author:
Myoung Ja CHUNG
1
;
Sun Ho YANG
;
Kyu Yun JANG
;
Woo Sung MOON
;
Myoung Jae KANG
;
Dong Geun LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonju, Korea. kyjang@chonbuk.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Breast Carcinoma;
VEGF-C
- MeSH:
Breast Neoplasms*;
Breast*;
Carcinoma, Ductal;
Cytoplasm;
Estrogens;
Humans;
Lymph Nodes;
Lymphangiogenesis;
Microvessels;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C*;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3
- From:Korean Journal of Pathology
2005;39(6):401-405
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is a novel growth factor that regulates lymphangiogenesis and/or angiogenesis via binding to the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) or VEGFR-2. Recent studies have suggested that VEGF-C may play a role in lymph node metastasis. This study was conducted to examine whether the expression of VEGF-C is associated with the clinicopathologic parameters, and especially lymph node metastasis, of invasive ductal carcinoma. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was performed for VEGF-C and CD31 in the surgically resected specimens from 83 patients with invasive breast carcinoma. RESULTS: Of the 83 breast carcinomas, 61 (74%) cases showed cytoplasmic VEGF-C imunoreactivity. VEGF-C expression was associated with lymph node metastasis (p=0.03), but it did not correlate with tumor size, the histologic grade, and the presence of estrogen receptor or progesteron receptor. The mean microvessel density in the cases without VEGF-C expression was 51.9+/-30.1 and it was 72.9+/-33.0 in the cases with 2+ expression for VEGF-C (p=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that VEGF-C expression may have an association with lymph node metastasis in the patients with breast carcinoma.
