Original Articles
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY ON ANGIOGENESIS OF AXILLARY LYMPH NODE METASTASIS IN HUMAN INVASIVE BREAST CARCINOMA
Abstract
Objective: To study angiogenesis of the axillary lymph node metastases including micrometastases in breast carcinoma and the relationship between microvessel density (MVD) and metastasis.
Methods: Thirty-seven breast cancer tissues and 121 metastatic axillary lymph nodes were collected from the patients and studied immlmohistochemically. MVD was counted by means of microvideo system under 100 magnification. The diameter of each micrometastasis was measured with a micrometer.
Results: The mean diameter of 13 micrometastatic foci was 210±37 pm. No blood vessel formation was found. MVD of the primary tumor and that of metastatic tumor in the axillary lymph node were 93.8±21.8 and 89.3±18.4, respectively (P<0.05). The distribution of microvessels of the metastatic tumor in the lymph node and that of the primary tumor was similar, being higher at the periphery than at the center.
Conclusion: Micrometastatic foci of breast carcinoma in the axillary lymph node do not have new blood vessel formation. Their further growth, however, depends on neoangiogenesis. Treatment based on inhibition of angiogenesis may be efficacious in the prevention of micrometastatie foci from developing into metastatic tumor in lymph node.
Methods: Thirty-seven breast cancer tissues and 121 metastatic axillary lymph nodes were collected from the patients and studied immlmohistochemically. MVD was counted by means of microvideo system under 100 magnification. The diameter of each micrometastasis was measured with a micrometer.
Results: The mean diameter of 13 micrometastatic foci was 210±37 pm. No blood vessel formation was found. MVD of the primary tumor and that of metastatic tumor in the axillary lymph node were 93.8±21.8 and 89.3±18.4, respectively (P<0.05). The distribution of microvessels of the metastatic tumor in the lymph node and that of the primary tumor was similar, being higher at the periphery than at the center.
Conclusion: Micrometastatic foci of breast carcinoma in the axillary lymph node do not have new blood vessel formation. Their further growth, however, depends on neoangiogenesis. Treatment based on inhibition of angiogenesis may be efficacious in the prevention of micrometastatie foci from developing into metastatic tumor in lymph node.
