EXPRESSION OF INTERLEUKIN-8 RECEPTORS ON TUMOR-CELLS AND VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS IN HUMAN BREAST-CANCER TISSUE

Background: Recently, we demonstrated the presence of Interleukin-8 (I L-8) in human breast cancer (HBC) tissue. We hypothesize that the IL-8 receptors are present and play a role in tumor cell and vascular endo thelial cell (VEC) activation (e.g. proliferation and angiogenesis). M aterials and Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis for IL-8 receptors (IL-8RA and IL-8RB) was performed on 43 malignant and 8 benign breast tissue samples. Results: Tumor cells expressed IL-8RA cmd IL-8RB in al l of the malignant specimens. Only 50% of the benign ductal epithelial cell (DEC) samples expressed these receptors. The majority of small v essel endothelial cells (SVEC) expressed IL-8RA and IL-8RB, while larg e vessel endothelial cells (LVEC) showed primarily IL-8RB expression. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that tumor and VEC express the IL -8 receptors and likely play a role in regulating tumor and VEC activa tion which controls proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis in HBC.