Overexpression of TNF-α and TNFRII in invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast: clinicopathological correlations

• Published in: Histopathology 2008-10, Vol.53 (4), p.381-388
• Main Authors: Cui, L F, Guo, X J, Wei, J, Liu, F F, Fan, Y, Lang, R G, Gu, F, Zhang, X M, Fu, L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Breast Neoplasms - blood supply; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; breast tumour; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - blood supply; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - metabolism; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - pathology; Carcinoma, Papillary - blood supply; Carcinoma, Papillary - metabolism; Carcinoma, Papillary - pathology; Cell Proliferation; Female; Humans; invasive micropapillary carcinoma; Ki67; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Middle Aged; MVD; Neoplasm Invasiveness - pathology; Neovascularization, Pathologic - pathology; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II - metabolism; Signal Transduction; TNF-α; TNFRII; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; tumour metastasis
• ISSN: 0309-0167; 1365-2559
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2008.03128.x

Aims:  Angiogenesis is essential for tumour growth and metastasis and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α is a potent angiogenic factor. Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast (IMPC), a rare subtype of breast cancer, possesses a lymphotropic nature with a high incidence of lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. The aim was to evaluate the role of TNF‐α and its receptor TNFRII in the vascular development and metastasis of IMPC. Methods and results:  One hundred cases of IMPC and 97 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified (IDC) were studied in parallel by immunohistochemistry for TNF‐α and TNFRII, and microvessel density (MVD) of the tumours was measured. The results showed that the expression of TNF‐α and TNFRII and the MVD were higher in IMPC than in IDC (P