Expression of TGF-¿ and EGFR in breast cancer and its relation to angiogenesis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2000

Authors

soares, r (Author) FMDUP; pereira, mb (Author) Other; silva, c (Author) Other; amendoeira, i (Author) Other; wagner, r (Author) Other; ferro, j (Author) Other; schmitt, fc (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Breast Journal

Vol. 6

Pages: 171-177

ISSN: 1075-122X

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge

Scopus - 18 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-007-95N

DOI: 10.1046/j.1524-4741.2000.98046.x

Abstract (EN): Immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of transforming growth factor ¿ (TGF-¿) and its receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), was performed in a series of 86 invasive carcinomas of the breast. TGF-¿ immunostaining was observed in the majority of the cases (72.1%), both in epithelial cells and in adjacent stromal cells. EGFR was also present in tumors (34.2%) and in the endothelial cells (46.1% of the cases) near the tumors. A significant association was observed between TGF-¿ expression and angiogenesis evaluated by immunohistochemistry using an antibody against factor VIII-related antigen. No association was observed between TGF-¿ expression and other clinicopathologic features. In contrast, EGFR expression in the tumor was associated with features of poor prognosis, such as tumor size, histologic grade, lymph node status, estrogen receptor content, p53 expression, sialyl-Tn expression, and age. The presence of EGFR in endothelial cells was correlated to young patient age. We also observed an association of EGFR in endothelial cells and angiogenesis in tumors with a size of less than 2 cm. Inversely, in larger tumors, angiogenesis was only associated with tumor TGF-¿ expression. These results indicate that endothelial EGFR may play a role in the early steps of breast cancer angiogenesis.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7