OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation between expression of angiogenesis-related factors, namely vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta(1)), and microvessel count (MVC) in invasive breast cancer and analyze its clinical implications.

METHODSVEGF, TGFbeta (1) and CD34 expressions in 62 surgical specimens of invasive breast cancer and 12 normal breast specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry and HE staining. MVC was calculated according to the quantification of positive CD34 expression. Clinicopathological characteristics of the patients including age, tumor size, histological type and auxiliary lymph node metastasis were recorded and compared with the results of MVC VEGF and TGFbeta1 expression and detection.

RESULTSMVC and of VEGF and expressions TGFbeta (1) in invasive breast cancer group (55.62-/+11.07, 51.61%, 56.45%, respectively) were greater than those in the normal control group (12.65-/+5.73, 16.67%, 16.67%, respectively, P<0.05). MVC and the positivity rates of VEGF and TGFbeta (1) expressions were 65.53-/+20.36, 68.75% and 78.13%, respectively, in invasive breast cancer patients with axillary lymph node metastasis, significantly higher than those without metastasis (P<0.05). MVC was correlated with VEGF and TGFbeta (1) expressions in that MVC was significantly higher in patients positive for VEGF and TGFbeta (1) (62.82-/+16.31 and 59.35-/+12.76) than in those negative for their expressions (51.16-/+12.53 and 50.80-/+15.62, P<0.05). Significant correlation was also found between VEGF and TGFbeta (1) expressions (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe interaction between VEGF and TGFbeta (1) mediates angiogenesis, and MVC and VEGF and TGFbeta (1) expressions are correlated to lymph node metastasis, which may provide reference for prognostic evaluation of invasive breast cancer.