[Immunohistochemical study of angiogenesis of axillary lymph node metastasis in human breast carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE

To study angiogenesis of axillary lymph node metastases (including micrometastatic foci and metastatic tumors) in breast carcinoma and the relationship between microvessel density (MVD) and metastasis.

METHODS

Thirty-seven breast cancer tissues and 121 metastatic axillary lymph nodes were collected from breast cancer patients and studied immunohistochemically. MVD was counted by means of microvideo system under 100x magnification. The diameter of each micrometastasis was measured with a micrometer.

RESULTS

The mean diameter of 13 micrometastatic foci was 210 +/- 37 microns. No blood vessel formation was found. MVD of the primary tumor and that of metastatic tumor in the axillary lymph node was 93.8 +/- 21.8 and 89.3 +/- 18.4, respectively (P > 0.05). The distribution of microvessels of the metastatic tumor in the lymph node and that of the primary tumor was similar, being higher at the periphery than at the center.

CONCLUSION

Micrometastatic foci of breast carcinoma in the axillary lymph node do not have new blood vessel formation. Their further growth, however, depends on neo-angiogenesis. Treatment based on inhibition of angiogenesis may be efficacious in the prevention of micrometastatic foci from developing into metastatic tumor in lymph node.