Correlation of Microvessel Density with Nuclear Pleomorphism, Mitotic Count and Vascular Invasion in Breast and Prostate Cancers at Preclinical and Clinical Levels

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Tumor angiogenesis correlates with recurrence and appears to be a prognostic factor for bothbreast and prostate cancers. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the correlation of microvessel density(MVD), a measure of angiogenesis, with nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic count, and vascular invasion in breast andprostate cancers at preclinical and clinical levels. <br/><b>Methods</b>: Samples from xenograft tumors of luminal B breastcancer and prostate adenocarcinoma, established by BT-474 and PC-3 cell lines, respectively, and commensuratehuman paraffin-embedded blocks were obtained. To determine MVD, specimens were immunostained forCD-34. Nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic count, and vascular invasion were determined using hematoxylin andeosin (H&E)-stained slides. <br/><b>Results</b>: MVD showed significant correlations with nuclear pleomorphism (r=0.68,P=0.03) and vascular invasion (r=0.77, P=0.009) in breast cancer. In prostate cancer, MVD was significantlycorrelated with nuclear pleomorphism (r=0.75, P=0.013) and mitotic count (r=0.75, P=0.012). In the breastcancer xenograft model, a significant correlation was observed between MVD and vascular invasion (r=0.87,P=0.011). In the prostate cancer xenograft model, MVD was significantly correlated with all three parameters(nuclear pleomorphism, r=0.95, P=0.001; mitotic count, r=0.91, P=0.001; and vascular invasion, r=0.79, P=0.017;respectively). <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Our results demonstrate that MVD is correlated with nuclear pleomorphism, mitoticcount, and vascular invasion at both preclinical and clinical levels. This study therefore supports the predictivevalue of MVD in breast and prostate cancers.