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Clinical and Translational Oncology
Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology 9/2019

01-09-2019 | Metastasis | Research Article

Over-expression of both VEGF-C and Twist predicts poor prognosis in human breast cancer

Authors: Y.-Q. Zhang, W.-L. Chen, F. Zhang, X.-L. Wei, D. Zeng, Y.-K. Liang, J.-D. Wu, L.-Y. Zhang, C.-P. Guo, H.-C. Zeng, S.-S. Hao, R.-H. Li, W.-H. Huang, G.-J. Zhang

Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology | Issue 9/2019

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Abstract

Background

Angiogenesis is an indispensable step in the growth and invasiveness of breast cancers involving a series of exquisite molecular steps. Pro-angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), have been recognized as pivotal therapeutic targets in the treatment of breast cancer. More recently, a highly conserved transcription factor Twist has been reported to be involved in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis.

Methods

The expression of VEGF-C and Twist was immunohistochemically determined in tissue samples of primary tumors from 408 patients undergoing curative surgical resection for breast cancer. The correlations of VEGF-C and Twist expressions with clinicopathologic parameters as well as survival outcomes were evaluated.

Results

Of the 408 patients evaluated, approximately 70% had high expression of VEGF-C which was significantly associated with advanced tumor stages (P = 0.019). Similarly, VEGF-C expression was associated with the proliferation index Ki67, N3 lymph node metastasis, and D2-40-positive lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) in a univariate analysis. Furthermore, patients with high expressions of VEGF-C and Twist (V + T+) had significantly increased lymph node metastasis, higher clinical stage, and worse disease-free survival, DFS (P = 0.001) and overall survival, OS (P = 0.011).

Conclusions

Our results suggested that co-expression of VEGF-C and Twist was associated with larger tumor size, higher numbers of lymph node involvement, D2-40-positive LVI, higher risk of distant metastasis, and worse DFS or OS in breast cancer patients.
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Metadata
Title
Over-expression of both VEGF-C and Twist predicts poor prognosis in human breast cancer
Authors
Y.-Q. Zhang
W.-L. Chen
F. Zhang
X.-L. Wei
D. Zeng
Y.-K. Liang
J.-D. Wu
L.-Y. Zhang
C.-P. Guo
H.-C. Zeng
S.-S. Hao
R.-H. Li
W.-H. Huang
G.-J. Zhang
Publication date
01-09-2019
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Clinical and Translational Oncology / Issue 9/2019
Print ISSN: 1699-048X
Electronic ISSN: 1699-3055
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-019-02051-9

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