[Change and clinic significance of serum VEGF level before and after breast cancer patients treated].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of breast cancer operation and post-operation therapy on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) serum level of patients with breast cancer, and the correlation between the VEGF serum level and the treatment effect with disease prognosis. METHODS: By ELISA method, the serum VEGF levels in 44 patients with invasive ductal breast cancer were measured on 1 day before operation, on day 1, 3, 7, 30 and 120 after the resection operation. The proteins of VEGF, ER, PR, PS2 and C-erbB-2 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry LSAB method. RESULTS: Compared with serum level before operation, the VEGF level on day 1 after surgery decreased significantly (P < 0.001). The VEGF serum levels on post-operation day 3 and 7 increased obviously, much higher than preoperative level and that on post-operation day 1 (P < 0.001). The VEGF level almost returned to preoperative level by 30 days after operation. In the 44 patients with breast cancer, there were 29 patients whose VEGF levels on day 120 were much lower than preoperative levels and that on post-operation day 1 (VEGF decrease group, P < 0.01), but 15 patients showing the opposite change (VEGF increase group, P < 0.01). The VEGF level difference between the two groups could be found statistically on day 120 after operation (P < 0.01), but no difference on post-operation day 1, 3, 7 and 30. The median levels of lower ER and higher C-erbB-2 expression were showed in VEGF increase group's patients than in VEGF decrease group's patients. There were the high lymph nodes positive rate and late clinical stage in VEGF increase group's patients. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical operation with other therapy can significantly decrease the VEGF serum level in patients with breast cancer. There is a close correlation between serum VEGF level and treatment effect with disease prognosis. The VEGF serum level may be one of important indexes in monitor forecast of therapy efficiency and disease prognosis.

[Experimental study of targeting therapy of breast cancer with 131I-labeled epidermal growth factor].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of (131)I-epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the proliferation of a heterologous graft in nude mice bearing human breast infiltrating duct carcinoma. METHODS: EGF/HAS was labeled with (131)I by chloramines-T method. Human breast cancer xenografts with positive EGFR expression were established in nude mice. The nude mice were injected with normal saline, Epirubicin Hydrochloride, (131)I-EGF, (131)I-HAS, (131)I intravenously and (131)I-EGF intratumoral administration respectively. The tumor growth inhibition rate was determined by measurement of tumor volume. Different examinations were carried out. RESULTS: There was remarkable significant difference of tumor volumes at 26th day among (131)I-EGF trial groups, (131)I, (131)I-HAS, and the negative control group. The tumor growth inhibition rate of (131)I-EGF trial groups was 82.0%, 80.7% respectively. Compared with the negative control group, the (131)I-EGF trial groups remarkably suppressed the growth of tumor (P < 0.05). Irreversible destruction of tissues in (131)I-EGF groups was observed under light and electron microscope. There was no evidence of hepatotoxicity, renal toxicity and myelotoxicity in nude mice bearing human breast cancer given (131)I-EGF over a 4-wk observation period. CONCLUSION: (131)I-EGF has obvious antitumor effects on a heterologous graft in nude mice bearing human breast infiltrating duct carcinoma, with little obvious side effects.

[Tumor angiogenesis in node-negative breast carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the microvessel density(MVD) in node-negative breast carcinoma, and to discuss the relationship of MVD and VEGF to the tumor size, histologic grade, and relapse and metastasis. Meanwhile, the prognostic value of MVD and VEGF was estimated. METHODS: MVD and VEGF were evaluated after immunohistochemical staining using antibody of vascular endothelium for factor VIII antigen and VEGF in 62 patients with node-negative breast carcinoma respectively. The patients were followed up. RESULTS: VEGF and MVD were all associated with histological grade and relapse (P < 0.05), but no association with ER and tumorsize; the relapse-free survivals (RFS) and overall survivals of patients with high MVD or high VEGF expression were significantly lower than that of the patients with low MVD or low VEGF expression (P < 0.01). Moreover, the difference of survivals in the patients with high MVD and high VEGF expression were more obvious(P < 0.005). Meanwhile, there was association between MVD and VEGF (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The node-negative patients with high VEGF expression or high MVD would have poor prognosis. VEGF and MVD could be significant prognostic indicators for the patients with node-negative breast carcinoma. It has better prognostic value to connected VEGF and MVD. VEGF was an important factor in tumor angiogenesis.