mRNA expression of the angiogenesis markers VEGF and CD105 (endoglin) in human breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Both VEGF and CD105 (endoglin) have been identified as markers of tumor angiogenesis and prognosis in breast cancer. They have always been studied in this kind of tumor by means of immunological methods. OBJECTIVE To study, by means of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the expression of VEGF and CD105 (endoglin) at the mRNA level in a series of breast cancers and to correlate the results obtained with all available clinical and biological features of the tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fresh tumor tissue from 103 previously untreated breast cancer patients was studied for VEGF and CD105 (endoglin) expression. In addition, the following parameters were determined in all tumors: DNA ploidy by means of flow cytometry; hormone receptor (ER & PR), Ki67, c-erb-B2 and p53 expression by means of immunohistochemistry; and h-MAM (mammaglobin) expression by means of RT-PCR. Classical prognostic parameters of the tumors, such as histological and nuclear grade or axillary lymph node invasion, were also included into the statistical analysis. RESULTS VEGF mRNA expression levels above the 25th percentile were significantly (p<0.05) associated with high proliferation (Ki67>10%) and aneuploidy of the tumors and inversely with estrogen receptor expression (p<0.01). CD105 (endoglin) mRNA expression levels above the 25th percentile only correlated significantly with nuclear grade 3 (p<0.05). The expression of both genes did not correlate with each other. CONCLUSION VEGF mRNA expression levels seem to be directly associated with VEGF functions at the protein level, whereas this seems not to be the case for CD105 (endoglin) mRNA levels.