ABSTRACT
Background: Several molecular markers have been detected that are
important in clinical aspect of malignancies especially in breast cancer. More
recently, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the most
potent endothelial cell mitogen and also a regulator of vascular permeability,
is emerging as a prognostic marker in patients with several types of cancer
including breast cancer. This study assessed the expression of VEGF in a series
of breast cancers in correlation with HER-2/neu and steroid receptors (ER and
PR) in standard clinicopathological parameters in an attempt to clarify its
potential clinical importance in Iraqi females of Middle Euphrates area.
Findings: The present investigation was performed over a period starting from
September 2011 through September 2012. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks
from 52 patients with breast cancer (44 ductal and 8 lobular carcinoma) were
included in this study. A group of 20 patients with fibroadenoma was included
as a comparative group, and 20 samples of normal breast tissue sections were
used as controls. Labeled streptavidin-biotin (LSAB+) complex method was
employed for immunohistochemical detection of VEGF, HER-2/neu, ER and PR. The
detection rate of VEGF, HER-2/neu, ER and PR was 59.62%, 36.96%, 34.62% and
36.54% respectively. There was a significant difference in immunoexpression
between ductal and lobular carcinoma, but not significantly different among
tumor sizes, tumor grades, axillary lymph node involvement and age of the
patients. However, VEGF was positively correlated with tumor grade, tumor size,
nodal involvement and HER-2/neu, but negatively correlated with ER and PR,
which show the most unfavorable biopathological profile. Conclusion: VEGF overexpression
play an important role in pathogenesis of breast carcinoma evolution, as its
positivity associated with biologically aggressive tumors, so incorporation of this biomarker with other
parameters into a prognostic index will more accurately predict clinical
outcome and determine the effects of anti cancer therapy.