OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation between angiogensis, fibrinolysis and invasion/metastasis in breast cancer.

METHODSThe expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and microvascular density (MVD) was immunohistochemically studied in 110 patients with primary breast cancer.

RESULTSHigh uPA expression was found in 59 patients (53.6%), and weak expression in 51 patients (46.4%). Strong MVD expression was found in 53 patients (48.2%), and weak expression in 57 patients (51.8%). The correlation between uPA expression and tumor size, lymph node status, TNM stage was statistically significant. Expression of MVD was also significantly associated with tumor size and TNM stage. Neither age related to GDDP, menopausal status nor PR ER status was significantly with uPA and MVD expression. Patients with strong expression of uPA and/or MVD had a significantly shorter relapse-free survival than those with weak expression of uPA and/or MVD. Especially, patients with strong expression of both uPA and MVD were likely to develop recurrence and metastasis. Multivariate analysis showed that uPA and MVD were two independent prognostic factors affecting the relapse-free survival.

CONCLUSIONAngiogensis and fibrinolysis were closely associated with invasion and metastasis of breast cancer. uPA and MVD may be two strong and independent biologic markers in predicting postoperative relapse and metastasis of breast cancer.