PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF ANGIOGENESIS IN MAMMARY-TUMORS

Vessel density counting has been performed in a variety of tumors and used as predictive parameter for the tumor's malignant behavior (metas tasis, five year survival). A number of studies have reported conflict ing results on the predictive value of vessel density counts. We have quantitated the number of microvessels in routine pathology specimens of paraffin embedded mammary tumors and related these findings to the histopathological diagnosis. Average vessel density counts of vascular hot spots of malignant and benign mammary tumors were similar (34 +/- 15 vs. 31 +/- 10), though significantly higher as in the adjacent nor mal mammary tissue (12 +/- 5). Analysis of individual tumors, however, showed that significantly more malignant than benign tumors had vesse l density counts beyond a defined cut-off value (50 microvessels/HPF). The results suggest that high counts may indeed serve as an independe nt prognostic parameter. In contrast, low counts may also be observed in malignant tumors and may, thus, not be used as negative prognostic factor.