Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Original Article

Tumor Angiogenesis and Cathepsin-D Expression in Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast.: Young Gyung Bae, Dae Hong Suh, Dong Sug Kim, Soo Jung Lee; Korean J Pathol. 1997;31(8):735-744.

Abstract PDF: This study was conducted to assess the prognostic value of tumor angiogenesis and Cathepsin-D in breast carcinoma, by correlating them with other clinicopathologic prognostic factors. In order to estimate microvessels within the tumor, an immunohistochemical method using monoclonal antibodies for factor VIII-related antigens (DAKO-vWf, F8/86) was used, and they were counted (perx200 field) in the most active areas of neovascularization. For the expression of Cathepsin-D, an immunohistochemical method using monoclonal antibodies (Novocastra, NCL-CDm) was performed. The microvessel count ranged from 8 to 346 per x200 field and the mean (+/-SD) was 72.46+/-54.96. The microvessel count was correlated with the estrogen receptor status, and it was also correlated with the tumor size when it was graded into four groups (1-33, 34-67, 68-100, >100), but was not correlated with other clinicopathologic parameters. Cathepsin-D was expressed in 40% (46/115) of the cases, but it was statistically correlated with the tumor size only. In conclusion, the expression of Cathepsin D and the degree of angiogenesis in breast cancer showed a correlation with the tumor size only. Therefore, they do not appear to be good prognostic parameters, according to the present study.

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