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Vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA levels quantified by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction in microdissected breast carcinoma tissues are correlated with histological type and grade of both invasive and intraductal components
Author(s) -
Yamasaki Tamio,
Tsuda Hitoshi,
Imazeki Nobuo,
Matsubara Osamu
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
pathology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1827
pISSN - 1320-5463
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1827.2005.01822.x
Subject(s) - microdissection , laser capture microdissection , vascular endothelial growth factor , pathology , biology , carcinoma , reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction , messenger rna , cancer research , vegf receptors , medicine , gene expression , gene , biochemistry
In breast cancer, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a prognostic factor, but the relationship of VEGF mRNA levels with various parameters or tumor progression is unclear. VEGF mRNA levels were measured in 48 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma by using laser capture microdissection and quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). The mean VEGF mRNA levels were compared among different histological types and grades in 41 and 29 samples of invasive and intraductal components, respectively. VEGF mRNA levels were always higher in cancerous cells than in non‐cancerous cells, but mean VEGF mRNA levels were not significantly different between invasive component (3.24 ± 3.18‐fold the value of non‐cancerous tissue) and intraductal component (4.14 ± 4.43‐fold). They were higher in papillotubular type than in other types, and higher in grade 2 carcinomas than in grade 3 carcinomas of invasive component, and higher in comedo type than in other types of intraductal component. Mean VEGF mRNA levels were higher in the VEGF‐immunopositive group than in the VEGF‐immunonegative group. There was no correlation between VEGF mRNA levels and tumor size, nodal status, or hormone receptor status. VEGF expression may play an important role in the development of both invasive and intraductal carcinoma components, especially those carcinoma components of less aggressive histological features.