Elevated serum and tissue VEGF associated with poor outcome in breast cancer patients

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has a potent angiogenesis functions in experimental models, although their role in the progression of human breast cancer is unclear. The aim of the current study was to examine the expression pattern of VEGF in serum and tissues of breast cancer patients, examine the tumor vascular characteristic by counting the blood vessels to assess microvessles density (MVD) and conduct correlations between the expressions of growth factor in relation to patient's clinicopathological data and survival. Methods: One hundred and twenty untreated patients with breast cancer were included in the study and followed for 4 years and 30 females with benign breast lesions matched with age and menstrual state as (control group). In this work we examine serum and tissue expression of VEGF by enzyme linked immune absorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoperoxidase technique respectively. Microvessels density were assessed and correlated with expression of growth factors. Results: The mean serum level of VEGF elevated in breast cancer patients before surgery was significantly higher when compared to that in patients with benign breast lesions or in the same patient after surgery. There was positive correlation between serum and tissue VEGF. Serum and tissue vascular endothelial growth factor was strongly associated with grade III tumor, large tumor size, positive lymph node, negative hormone receptor status, + ve HER2 neu and poor survival, the data of the present study showed significant increase in mean serum level of VEGF in patients with positive vascular invasion P: 0.013. Conclusion: VEGF appear to play an important role in progression of breast carcinoma and to have significant impact on patient prognosis and can be used to identify a subset of breast cancer at higher risk for development of recurrence and distant metastasis. (C) 2011 Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.