EXPRESSION OF PLATELET-DERIVED ENDOTHELIAL-CELL GROWTH-FACTOR THYMIDINE PHOSPHORYLASE IN HUMAN BREAST-CANCER

We have investigated the expression of platelet-derived endothelial-ce ll growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase (PD-ECGF/dThdPase) in human b reast-cancer tissues by the immunocytochemical method using anti-PD-EC GF/dThdPase monoclonal antibody. Out of 100 invasive-ductal-carcinoma tissue samples, 39 (39%) were evaluated as PD-ECGF/dThdPase-positive. The expression of PD-ECGF/dThdPase was identified mainly in the cytopl asma of tumor cells. The expression of PD-ECGF/dThdPase was significan tly associated with the microvessel density assessed by immunostaining to factor-VIII-related-antigen (p < 0.05). However, there was no corr elation between expression of PD-ECGF/dThdPase and menopausal status, tumor size, axillary lymph-node metastases, hormone-receptor status, e pidermal-growth-factor receptor, or erb-B-2-protein and p53-protein ex pression. We suggest that expression of PD-ECGF/dThdPase plays an impo rtant role in the promotion of angiogenesis in human breast cancer. (C ) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.