Comparison of vascularity and angiogenesis in primary invasive mammary carcinomas and in their respective axillary lymph node metastases

It is well established that the ability of a neoplasm to induce a blood sup ply from a pre-existing circulation (angiogenesis) is a major factor in tum our growth, invasion and metastasis. However, the angiogenic potential of m etastases and their subsequent growth have not been extensively studied. Th e question arises: can metastatic clones induce the same level of angiogene sis as in the primary neoplasm they emanated from? In this study it is hypo thesised that in the same patient the level of vascularity and angiogenesis is the same in both the primary invasive ductal carcinoma and in the axill ary lymph node metastasis at the time of surgery, according to Kerbels theo ry of clonal-dominance. To directly address the hypothesis, morphological m easures of the established blood/lymphatic circulation (vascularity) as wel l as estimates of angiogenesis (endothelial cell proliferation) were measur ed in primary tumours and directly compared to the same parameters in the c orresponding lymph node metastasis in a case by case basis (n=17). The resu lts demonstrate varying associations between the level of vascularity and a ngiogenesis between matched individual tumours and their metastatic lymph n odal deposits. It is possible that either variations in the angiogenic char acteristics of the metastasising clone or local or systemic promoters or in hibitors of angiogenesis influence tumour angiogenesis at the different sit es.