OBJECTIVETo study the significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvascular density (MVD) expression in breast cancer.

METHODSThe expression of MVD and VEGF was studied in 81 patients with primary breast cancer by SP immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTSThere were 49 patients with high VEGF expression (60.5%) and 35 patients with high MVD expression (43.2%). There was significant correlation between VEGF or MVD expression and TNM stage, but not age, tumor size, ER expression or lymph node status. VEGF was significantly related with MVD expression. Univariate analysis showed that patients with low expression of VEGF and MVD had longer disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Grouping univariate analysis showed that VEGF had significant correlation with the DFS of all grouped patients and the OS of patients with LN(+) or stage III lesions. MVD had significant correlation with the DFS and OS of LN(+) patients and the DFS of stage III lesion patients. Multivariate analysis showed that MVD was a risk predictor because of its positive statistic value, the higher expression, the shorter survival time of the patients.

CONCLUSIONBoth VEGF and MVD are useful prognostic factors in breast cancer. MVD appears to be a strong and independent biologic marker for breast cancer prognosis.