A Study of Microvascular Density in Carcinoma of Breast with CD34 Immunostaining

Abstract

Introduction: Tumor agiogenesis is generally classified in to two types, namely, sprouting and intussusceptive angiogenesis. The formation of new blood vessels from the already existing is termed as sprouting angiogenesis.  Many growth factors including endothelial growth factor (VEGF) contribute the formation of new vessels at the tumor sites. On other hand, the tumor able to split the existing blood vessels, this type is termed as intussuscepted angiogenesis and discovered in human colon adenocarcinoma xenograft.  In intussuscepted angiogenesis, an existing blood vessel splits into two new blood vessels by formation of trans vascular pillars. Objective: The present study aimed to analyse the nicrovascular density on breast cancer patients using CD 34 immunostaining method. Results: This mis-regulation may lead to the development of cancers. Histological grading with Grade II were more with 19 (63.3%) cases followed by Grade I with 4 (13.3%) and Grade III with 3 (10%) cases. There was increase in mean vascular density in Grade II when compared with Grade I and Grade III. However no significant correlation was observed statistically with a P value of 0.176. Using different antibodies such as CD34, CD31, Factor VIII and CD105 to microvessels differentiation was highlighted. Conclusion: The results showed that the anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody is more sensitive than the anti- CD31 antibody in calculation of MVD in breast cancer as mentioned in previous studies.