Prognostic Significance of Microvessel Density in Breast Cancer of Indian Population

INTRODUCTION : Angiogenesis is of key importance in the process of tumor progression in a number of tumor types including breast cancer . In my study I have used anti CD34 antibody to assess intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) in 96 cases to estimate neo-angiogenesis and compared it in various prognostic groups . OBJECTIVES OF STUDY :To study MVD in malignant breast lumps by immunohistochemistry with CD34 antibody . To compare MVD in different tumor stage , grade and age group. MATERIAL AND METHODS : Part of malignant breast lump removed for tissue biopsy or by mastectomy was used for detection of MVD using antibody against CD34. Counting the number and estimating the density of blood vessels has been used as a measure of angiogenesis . Tumor grading was done as per Nottingham histologic grade and staging was done according to AJCC sixth edition . RESULTS : Distribution of Mean MVD in stage l ,ll,lll,lV was 20.92,22.37,26.82,29.50 respectively. Distribution of MVD in Nottingham histologic grade l,ll,lll was 20.80, 24.00, 26.71 respectively . Distribution of M.V.D. in pre and postmenopausal group was 27.51 and 21.71 respectively . CONCLUSION : It may be concluded from this study that higher M.V.D. obtained by immunohistochemistry using anti CD34 antibody , are associated with higher tumor stage and grade and indirectly predict poor prognosis . However larger studies with bigger sample size are required to decide cutoff values between different tumor stages and grades. KEY WORD : microvessel density ,breast cancer ,Indian population.