VCAM (IGSF) ADHESION MOLECULE EXPRESSION IN BREAST CARCINOMAS DETECTED BY AUTOMATED AND QUANTITATIVE IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL ASSAYS

Expression of vascular cell adhesion molecules (VCAM) in tumors is ass ociated with endothelial cell activation and may facilitate adherence of carcinomatous cells to the vessel wall, promoting bloodborne metast ases. Expression of VCAM was investigated in 202 breast carcinomas usi ng automated (Ventana System) and quantitative (SAMBA image analyzer) immunoperoxidase staining of frozen sections. Positive VCAM immunoreac tivity was observed in 83 tumors (41%) (mean immunostained surface, 12 .4%; Sg), 10.5). The mean area of immunostaining was correlated with c linical and pathologic prognotic indicators and with the immunohistoch emical expression in tissue sections of various indicators of cell pro liferation, metastatic potential, and drug resistance or sensitivity, evaluated according to the same method. There was no correlation of VC AM immunoreactivity with tumor size, type, or grade or with nodal stat us. Also, no significant correlation was observed between VCAM and MIB 1/Ki67, p53, Bcl-2, E cadherin, CD44v, cathepsin D, CD31, P-gp, ER, PR , or pS2. However VCAM immunoreactivity was significantly correlated w ith ELAM and VLA(2) (P = .001) and VLA(3) (P = .008) expression. The r esults suggest that VCAM expression in breast carcinoma tissue section s is: likely not a prognostic indicator lts practical clinical relevan ce, if any, must be established by correlation with patients' outcomes and tumor sensitivity to drugs. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders C ompany.