ANGIOGENESIS AND METASTATIC POTENTIAL IN BREAST-CARCINOMA

We studied tumour specimens from 106 patients with primary breast rumo urs seen at the University Hospital of Patras, Greece, with a follow-u p period of 3-10 years, focusing on the role of breast cancer angiogen esis as a prognostic factor. Angiogenesis was assessed in the primary tumour using an immunohistochemical stain for the CD31 antigen assay f or quantitation of microvessel counts. Multiple regression analysis us ing microvessel count and other clinical-histological findings (age, t umour size, grade and lymphnode metastases) showed that only microvess el counts were significantly predictive of haematogenous metastases to lung, bones, liver and brain (chi(2) test, P = 0.022). This study sho ws that angiogenesis is significantly predictive of haematogenous meta stases.