Preoperative assessment of tumor angiogenesis by vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA expression in homogenate samples of breast carcinoma: Fine-needle aspirates vs. resection samples
✍ Scribed by Anan, Keisei; Morisaki, Takashi; Katano, Mitsuo; Ikubo, Akashi; Tsukahara, Yasuhiro; Uchiyama, Akihiko; Kuroki, Syoji; Tanaka, Masao; Torisu, Motomichi
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1997
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 380 KB
- Volume
- 66
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0022-4790
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✦ Synopsis
Background and Objectives: Tumor angiogenesis is receiving increased attention as a prognostic factor and also as a possible target for new anticancer agents. We investigated whether extent of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression correlated with degree of neovascularization, and whether this expression in fine-needle aspirates could be a marker for assessing angiogenic potential of breast tumors. Methods: VEGF mRNA expression was semiquantitated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern blotting. Tumor neovascularization was assessed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD31 (PECAM) antibody. Results: There was a positive correlation between degree of neovascularization and semiquantitated VEGF mRNA expression in invasive ductal carcinomas (r 2 ס 0.346, n ס 48, P < 0.05). Extent of VEGF mRNA expression in fine-needle aspirates was closely correlated with that in resected invasive ductal carcinomas equal to or less than 3 cm in size (r 2 ס 0.874, n ס 14, P < 0.05). Conclusion: These data suggest that semiquantitation of VEGF mRNA expression in fine-needle aspirates is useful for assessing angiogenic potential of invasive ductal carcinomas.