Does thymidine phosphorylase correlate with angiogenesis in intraductal carcinoma of the breast?

ABSTRACT

To determine the association between thymidine phosphorylase [TP] and angiogenesis, and other conventional prognostic markers. We also evaluated interobserver and intraobserver reliability for TP expression in ductal carcinoma, to achieve a more consistent results. Our study included all cases diagnosed in Adnan Menderes University Medical Faculty Hospital, Aydin, Turkey as invasive ductal carcinoma or ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS] with proven component of [>30%], between January 2003 and February 2005. The total number of the cases was 27 and their median age was 50 years. All sections were stained using monoclonal antibody-TP and examined at x40 magnification. Either nuclear or cytoplasmic staining was accepted as positive. The histoscore [H-score] was calculated for each specimen. The tumor stromal vascularity was assessed by monoclonal anti-CD34; and areas of intense vascularization were determined. Conventional immunohistochemical markers such as c-erb B2, Ki-67, estrogen and progesterone receptors and p53 were also applied to all slides. Three pathologists blindly examined each slide under 10 high-power fields [10 HPF] for 2 times in a 2 months period. There was no significant association between stromal vascularity and TP staining of cancer cells [p=0.1] and no correlation was determined between H-scores for TP staining in ductal carcinoma and DCIS components [p=0.5]. There was no significant correlation noted between stromal and periductal vascularity with the anti-CD34 antibody was used. No significant correlation was identified between the TP H-score and stromal or periductal vascularity