Clinicopathological significance of vascular endothelial growth factor-C in breast carcinoma with long-term follow-up.

Abstract

Expression of angiogenic and lymphangiogenic factors by tumors may influence the route of metastatic spread. The angiogenic factor vascular growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is implicated in the development of lymphatic vessels and promotion of lymphatic metastasis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether VEGF-C correlates with lymph node metastasis or prognosis. We assessed VEGF-C expression using immunohistochemistry in 123 invasive breast carcinomas with long-term follow-up. The relationship between VEGF-C expression and lymph node status and other established clinicopathological parameters was assessed. Whether VEGF-C expression plays a prognostic role in breast cancer was also investigated. VEGF-C expression was identified in 103 cases (83.7%). Positive VEGF-C was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0131). Survival curves determined by the Kaplan-Meier method and univariate analysis demonstrated that positive VEGF-C was associated with both disease-free survival (P = 0.0165) and overall survival (P = 0.0175). On the basis of our findings, VEGF-C plays a crucial role in lymph node metastasis and may be a significant prognostic factor for long-term survival in breast cancer.

• Authors: Yasushi Nakamura, Hironao Yasuoka, Masahiko Tsujimoto, Qifeng Yang, Ayumi Tsukiyama, Shigeru Imabun, Masaaki Nakahara, Kazuyasu Nakao, Misa Nakamura, Ichiro Mori, Kennichi Kakudo
• Journal: Modern pathology : an official journal of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Inc (Mod Pathol) Vol. 16 Issue 4 Pg. 309-14 (Apr 2003) ISSN: 0893-3952 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12692195 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Endothelial Growth Factors
• Receptors, Estrogen
• Receptors, Progesterone
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
• Receptor, ErbB-2

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Breast Neoplasms (metabolism, mortality, pathology)
• Disease-Free Survival
• Endothelial Growth Factors (biosynthesis)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lymphatic Metastasis (pathology)
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• Receptor, ErbB-2 (analysis)
• Receptors, Estrogen (analysis)
• Receptors, Progesterone (analysis)
• Survival Analysis
• Time Factors
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 (analysis)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C