Accurate assessment of lymph vessel tumor emboli in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast according to tumor areas, and their prognostic significance

Circulating CD3+CD8+ T Lymphocytes as Indicators of Disease Status in Patients With Early Breast Cancer

Circulating CD3+CD8+ cell levels were lower in breast cancer patients, elevated posttreatment, and subsequently declining upon recurrence. Elevated plasma chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) levels distinguished patients with breast cancer from healthy controls. In summary, circulating CD3+CD8+ CTL and plasma CCL2 levels emerged as promising dual-purpose biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer management.

Growth of tumor emboli within a vessel model reveals dependence on the magnitude of mechanical constraint

Tumor emboli-aggregates of tumor cells within vessels-pose a clinical challenge as they are associated with increased metastasis and tumor recurrence. When growing within a vessel, tumor emboli are subject to a unique mechanical constraint provided by the tubular geometry of the vessel. Current models of tumor emboli use unconstrained multicellular tumor spheroids, which neglect this mechanical interplay. Here, we modeled a lymphatic vessel as a 200 μm-diameter channel in either a stiff or soft, bioinert agarose matrix to create a vessel-like constraint model (VLCM), and we modeled colon or breast cancer tumor emboli with aggregates of HCT116 or SUM149PT cells, respectively. The stiff matrix VLCM constrained the tumor emboli to the cylindrical channel, which led to continuous growth of the emboli, in contrast to the growth rate reduction that unconstrained spheroids exhibit. Emboli morphology in the soft matrix VLCM, however, was dependent on the magnitude of mechanical mismatch between the matrix and the cell aggregates. In general, when the elastic modulus of the matrix of the VLCM was greater than the emboli (EVLCM/Eemb > 1), the emboli were constrained to grow within the channel, and when the elastic modulus of the matrix was less than the emboli (0 < EVLCM/Eemb < 1), the emboli bulged into the matrix. Due to a large difference in myosin II expression between the cell lines, we hypothesized that tumor cell aggregate stiffness is an indicator of cellular force-generating capability. Inhibitors of myosin-related force generation decreased the elastic modulus and/or increased the stress relaxation of the tumor cell aggregates, effectively increasing the mechanical mismatch. The increased mechanical mismatch after drug treatment was correlated with increased confinement of tumor emboli growth along the channel, which may translate to increased tumor burden due to the increased tumor volume within the diffusion distance of nutrients and oxygen.

Elastin and collagen IV double staining: A refined method to detect blood vessel invasion in breast cancer

Blood vessel invasion (BVI) is a prognostic indicator in various cancers. Elastic stain, which highlights blood vessel walls, is commonly used to detect BVI. In the breast, however, its diagnostic usefulness is limited because it also highlights some intraductal carcinoma components, which often mimic BVI. In this study, we aimed to improve BVI detection in breast cancer and developed a double staining: Victoria blue for elastin and immunohistochemistry for collagen IV. Collagen IV fibers were retained along the basement membranes of intraductal carcinoma components, whereas they were rearranged or lost in BVI. From these observations, we defined BVI as the presence of tumor cells inside an elastic ring with a rearrangement or loss of collagen IV fibers. Using these criteria, we found BVI in 148 cases (49%) among 304 cases of primary operable invasive breast carcinoma, and the presence of BVI correlated significantly with poor prognosis. By contrast, we detected BVI in 94 cases (31%) or 14 cases (5%) by elastic van Gieson or CD31 immunostaining among the same cases, respectively, with no statistically significant association with prognosis. Thus, elastin and collagen IV double staining facilitates the detection of BVI in breast cancer and is useful to predict prognosis.

Prognostic Importance of Tumor Deposits in the Ipsilateral Axillary Region of Breast Cancer Patients

Tumor deposits (TD) are irregular discrete tumor masses in adipose tissue, discontinuous from the primary tumor, that are described in various cancers. The incidence and/or prognostic value of TD in breast carcinomas have not been studied so far. We reevaluated 145 breast cancer patients, diagnosed and treated between 2001 and 2006 at our institution for the presence and incidence of TD. Histologic type, grade, size of the primary tumor, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 status of the tumor, and presence of peritumoral lymphovascular invasion were included in the data. TD were detected in 42 cases (29.0%). The mean age of the patients was 52.2 years (27-82). Most patients (79.3%) had either invasive carcinoma of no special type (NST) or invasive lobular carcinoma, and most tumors (86.9%) were either grade 2 or 3. After excluding TD from the number of metastatic lymph nodes, the pN status of 9 patients changed. Univariate analysis of 110 patients with follow-up information revealed that the new pN status (p = 0.036), presence of local recurrence (p = 0.016) and TD (p = 0.003) were significantly correlated with distant metastases. The median follow-up of the patients was 84 months (5-161), 10-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 67.2% and 73.7%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, presence of TD remained independently associated with distant metastasis (p = 0.002). The probability of distant metastasis was 3.3 times higher in patients with TD. These results emphasize that TD are present in breast cancer patients, and that their presence should warn the clinician in terms of possible distant metastasis. Therefore, presence of TD, the evaluation of which is neither time consuming nor require sophisticated methods, should be included in pathology reports.

Prognostic significance of lymphatic vessel invasion diagnosed by D2-40 in Chinese invasive breast cancers

Lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) is promising in determining prognosis and treatment strategies, but the application of LVI as a histopathological criterion in breast cancer patients especially those of different subgroups is controversial. This research aims to evaluate the prognostic value of LVI assessed by D2-40 not only in patients with early invasive breast cancer but also in lymph node-negative, lymph node-positive, luminal A-like, luminal B-like, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative subgroups.The study cohort included 255 patients with a median follow-up of 101 months. Immunohistochemical staining for D2-40 was performed to identify LVI.LVI was present in 64 (25.1%), 15 (12.1%), 49 (37.4%), 19 (20.9%), 23 (27.7%), 13 (31.7%), and 9 (22.5%), respectively, in the whole cohort, lymph node-negative, lymph node-positive, luminal A-like, luminal B-like, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative patients. LVI was associated with large tumor size (P = .04), high histological grade (P = .004), involved lymph node (P < .001), and high expression of Ki-67 (P = .003). No significant difference was found among patients with different subtypes and LVI status. The presence of LVI was significantly associated with adverse disease-free survival in the whole cohort (P < .001), lymph node-negative (P < .001), lymph node-positive (P < .001), luminal A-like (P < .001), and luminal B-like patients (P < .001) in both of the univariate and multivariate survival analysis.This study indicated that the presence of LVI stained by D2-40 provided independent prognostic information not only in the whole cohort but also in the subgroup of patients with lymph node-negative, lymph node-positive, luminal A-like, and luminal B-like diseases, which may make a case for routine clinical assessment of LVI using D2-40.

High lymphatic vessel density and presence of lymphovascular invasion both predict poor prognosis in breast cancer

Background

Lymphatic vessel density and lymphovascular invasion are commonly assessed to identify the clinicopathological outcomes in breast cancer. However, the prognostic values of them on patients’ survival are still uncertain.

Methods

Databases of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from inception up to 30 June 2016. The hazard ratio with its 95% confidence interval was used to determine the prognostic effects of lymphatic vessel density and lymphovascular invasion on disease-free survival and overall survival in breast cancer.

Results

Nineteen studies, involving 4215 participants, were included in this study. With the combination of the results of lymphatic vessel density, the pooled hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 2.02 (1.69–2.40) for disease-free survival and 2.88 (2.07–4.01) for overall survival, respectively. For lymphovascular invasion study, the pooled hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 1.81 (1.57–2.08) for disease-free survival and 1.64 (1.43–1.87) for overall survival, respectively. In addition, 29.56% (827/2798) of participants presented with lymphovascular invasion in total.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that lymphatic vessel density and lymphovascular invasion can predict poor prognosis in breast cancer. Standardized assessments of lymphatic vessel density and lymphovascular invasion are needed.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-017-3338-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Tight junction protein claudin 4 in gastric carcinoma and its relation to lymphangiogenic activity

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Claudins are a family of tight junction proteins that are biologically relevant in many cancer progression steps. This study aimed to investigate the expression of the intestinal claudin (claudin 4) in gastric carcinoma and to evaluate its relation to the different clinicopathologic prognostic parameters, especially lymphangiogenesis (production of new lymphatic vessels, measured by lymphovascular density (LVD)) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty-five gastric carcinoma specimens were immunohistochemically stained for claudin 4 and D2-40 (for detection of lymphatic vessel endothelium).

RESULTS

High expression of claudin 4 was detected in 26 of 55 (47.3%) cases. Low expression of claudin 4 was related to poorly differentiated type (p=0.001), non-intestinal (diffuse) type (p=0.001), deeper tumour invasion (p<0.001), lymph node metastasis (p=0.001), and higher stage (p=0.001). In addition, higher LVD was related to poorly differentiated types (p=0.001), non-intestinal type (p=0.001), lymph node metastasis (p=0.015), and higher tumour, node, metastasis (TNM) stage (p=0.001). LVI was related to lymph node metastasis (p=0.025), higher TNM stage (p=0.001), and LVD (p=0.001). Claudin 4 significantly correlated with both LVD (p=0.009) and LVI (p=0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

High expression of claudin 4 was associated with the more differentiated intestinal-type gastric carcinoma and lost in poorly differentiated diffuse type. So, claudin 4 may be used as one of the differentiating markers between the two major types of gastric carcinoma (intestinal vs. diffuse). LVD and LVI were related to higher incidence of lymph node metastasis and therefore could be used as predictive markers for lymph node metastasis in limited specimens during early gastric carcinoma to determine the need for more invasive surgery. Low expression of claudin 4 was related to lymphangiogenesis. This may shed light on the relation of tight junction protein expression and lymphangiogenesis.

Immunohistochemical detection improves the prognostic value of lymphatic and blood vessel invasion in primary ductal breast cancer

Background

Lymphovascular invasion (LBVI) including lymphatic (LVI) and blood (BVI) vessel invasion is a critical step in cancer metastasis. In breast cancer, the optimal detection method of LBVI remains unclear. This research aimed to compare the prognostic value of different assessments of the LVI and BVI in patients with early breast cancer.

Methods

The study cohort included 360 patients with a median follow-up of 168 months. LBVI on H&E sections (LBVI_H&_E) was reviewed centrally and blinded to the pathology report. Immunohistochemical staining for D2-40 and Factor VIII was performed to identify LVI_D2–40 and BVI_FVIII.

Results

LBVI_H&_E, LVI_D2–40 and BVI_FVIII were present in 102 (28%), 127 (35%) and 59 (16%) patients respectively. In node-negative patients (206), LBVI_H&_E, LVI_D2–40 and BVI_FVIII were present in 41 (20%), 53 (26%) and 21 (10%) respectively. In triple-negative patients (120), LBVI_H&_E, LVI_D2–40 and BVI_FVIII were present in 35 (29%), 46 (38%) and 16 (13%) respectively. LBVI_H&_E was significantly associated with tumour recurrence in the whole cohort (P < 0.001), node-negative patients (P = 0.001) and triple-negative patients (P = 0.004). LVI_D2–40 and BVI_FVIII were significantly associated with tumour recurrence in whole cohort, node-negative (all P < 0.001) and triple-negative patients (P = 0.002). In multivariate survival analysis, only LVI_D2–40 and BVI_FVIII were independent predictors of cancer specific survival in the whole cohort (P = 0.023 and P < 0.001 respectively), node-negative patients (P = 0.004 and P = 0.001 respectively) and triple-negative patients (P = 0.014 and P = 0.001 respectively).

Conclusion

Assessment of LVI and BVI by IHC using D2-40 and Factor VIII improves prediction of outcome in patients with node-negative and triple-negative breast cancer.

Quantitative assessment of lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI) provides important prognostic information in node-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Some studies investigating the prognostic value of lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI) have shown an association between LVSI and disease-free survival. Definitive criteria and optimal determination of this parameter remain unclear, however, especially regarding the clinical relevance of LVSI quantification.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A subset of node-negative breast carcinomas from premenopausal patients from the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer trial 10854 (assessing efficacy of perioperative chemotherapy patients with T1-T3, N0-2, and M0 breast cancer (BC) was selected and scored for LVSI. In 358 evaluable breast carcinomas, the number of LVSI foci and tumor cells was determined in the largest tumor embolus within the lymph vessels. These two parameters were multiplied to calculate the LVSI tumor burden (LVSI TB). The optimal cutoff for this parameter was calculated in a test set (N = 120), tested in a validation set (N = 238), and compared with simple quantitation of the number of LVSI foci.

RESULTS

Tumors with a single LVSI focus are not associated with increased risk for relapse [hazard ratio (HR) 1.423, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.762-2.656]. The LVSI TB had higher sensitivity and specificity compared with simple determination of the number of LVSI foci. LVSI TB was independently associated with disease-free survival in the validation set (HR 2.366, 95% CI 1.369-4.090, P = 0.002) in multivariate analysis and provided prognostic information in both the low- and high-risk node-negative BC groups (P < 0.001 and P = 0.007, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The determination of the number of LVSI foci multiplied by the number of tumor cells gives the most reliable quantitative assessment of this parameter, which can provide prognostic information in node-negative BC.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in gastric adenocarcinoma: impact on lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis

Background

Lymphatic metastasis is the most important parameter in the spread of gastric carcinomas. Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule that plays an important role in inflammation and carcinogenesis. In this study, the possible link between inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression with lymphangiogenesis and the clinicopathological parameters of gastric carcinomas was investigated.

Methods

In this study, iNOS expression and D2-40 (lymphatic endothelium-specific marker monoclonal antibody) reactivity were examined immunohistochemically in 41 gastric adenocarcinoma and 20 non-neoplastic gastric tissues. iNOS expression was scored semiquantitatively in the tumor parenchyma and stroma. D2-40-positive lymphatic vessels were used in the determination of lymphatic invasion and intratumoral and peritumoral lymphatic vascular density.

Results

iNOS expression was higher in gastric carcinoma tissue compared with non-neoplastic tissue. Particularly, iNOS expression in tumor cells was found to be closely related to lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis. The density of lymphatic invasion as well as intratumoral and peritumoral lymphatic vascular density were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that iNOS-mediated NO formation plays an important role in gastric carcinogenesis, tumor lymphangiogenesis, and the development of lymphatic metastases. Inhibition of the NO pathway may be an alternative treatment of gastric carcinomas.

Virtual slides

The virtual slides for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1713572940104388.

Histological factors for accurately predicting first locoregional recurrence of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast

The accurate assessment of the risk of first locoregional recurrence is very important for improving the survival of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. The present study investigated which histological factors (both well-known histological factors and factors that we have proposed) were the most capable of accurately predicting first locoregional recurrence among 1042 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma and various tumor statuses (overall, nodal status, Union Internationale Contre le Cancer pathological TNM stage, adjuvant therapy status, and adjuvant radiotherapy status) using multivariate analyses by the Cox proportional hazard regression model. The present study clearly demonstrated that the best factor for accurately predicting locoregional recurrence was grade 3 lymph vessel tumor embolus (>4 mitotic figures and >6 apoptotic figures in tumor embolus), followed by type 2 invasive ductal carcinoma (negative for fibrotic foci but positive for atypical tumor-stromal fibroblast), grade 2 lymph vessel tumor embolus (1-4 mitotic figures and >0 apoptotic figures in tumor embolus; >0 mitotic figures and 1-6 apoptotic figures in tumor embolus), primary invasive tumor cell-related factors (>19 mitotic figures, presence of tumor necrosis, presence of skin invasion) and >5 mitotic figures in metastatic carcinomas to the lymph node. Our proposed factors were superior to well-known histological factors of primary invasive tumors or clinicopathological factors for the accurate prediction of first locoregional recurrence in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Pathological diagnostic criterion of blood and lymphatic vessel invasion in colorectal cancer: a framework for developing an objective pathological diagnostic system using the Delphi method, from the Pathology Working Group of the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum

Aims

The goal of this study is to create an objective pathological diagnostic system for blood and lymphatic vessel invasion (BLI).

Methods

1450 surgically resected colorectal cancer specimens from eight hospitals were reviewed. Our first step was to compare the current practice of pathology assessment among eight hospitals. Then, H&E stained slides with or without histochemical/immunohistochemical staining were assessed by eight pathologists and concordance of BLI diagnosis was checked. In addition, histological findings associated with BLI having good concordance were reviewed. Based on these results, framework for developing diagnostic criterion was developed, using the Delphi method. The new criterion was evaluated using 40 colorectal cancer specimens.

Results

Frequency of BLI diagnoses, number of blocks obtained and stained for assessment of BLI varied among eight hospitals. Concordance was low for BLI diagnosis and was not any better when histochemical/immunohistochemical staining was provided. All histological findings associated with BLI from H&E staining were poor in agreement. However, observation of elastica-stained internal elastic membrane covering more than half of the circumference surrounding the tumour cluster as well as the presence of D2-40-stained endothelial cells covering more than half of the circumference surrounding the tumour cluster showed high concordance. Based on this observation, we developed a framework for pathological diagnostic criterion, using the Delphi method. This criterion was found to be useful in improving concordance of BLI diagnosis.

Conclusions

A framework for pathological diagnostic criterion was developed by reviewing concordance and using the Delphi method. The criterion developed may serve as the basis for creating a standardised procedure for pathological diagnosis.

Lymphatic tumor emboli detected by D2-40 immunostaining can more accurately predict lymph-node metastasis

BACKGROUND

Resected specimens of superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SSCCE) underwent D2-40 immunostaining to accurately assess lymphatic tumor emboli (LY) and to analyze correlations between LY and lymph node metastasis (N). This present study was designed to determine the accuracy of LY grade for predicting the risk of N.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied 75 patients with SSCCE who underwent surgical resection of their tumors. Resected specimens were sliced into continuous sections at 5 mm intervals. Intramucosal cancers are classified into three groups (m1, m2, m3), and submucosal cancers are also divided into three groups (sm1, sm2, sm3). The numbers of LY present in lymphatic ducts on D2-40 immunostaining, venous tumor emboli (V) on CD34 immunostaining, and lymphatic tumor emboli (ly) and V on hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) and elastica van Gieson staining (EVG) were counted for each case. The presence of lymphatic tumor emboli was graded according to the total number of LY per case as follows: 0, LY0; 1 to 2, LY1; 3 to 9, LY2; and 10 or more, LY3.

RESULTS

All m1 and m2 cases were LY- and N- Lymphatic tumor emboli were present in 54% of m3 cases, 70% of sm1 cases, 54% of sm2 cases, and 75% of sm3 cases. Determination of N was positive in 18% of m3 cases, 47% of sm1 cases, 36% of sm2 cases, and 62% of sm3 cases. The frequency of LY significantly correlated with the number of N (p < 0.0001). Multiple regression analysis showed that only LY and V significantly correlated with N. When the detection rate of N was compared between LY and ly, LY was superior to ly in terms of specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and false positive rate. As for LY grade, N was positive in 39.1% of LY1 cases, 81.8% of LY2 cases, and 100% of LY3 cases. Even in LY-, N was positive in one sm1 case and in two sm2 cases. In the sm1 case, the depth of invasion was 350 μm from the lower margin of the muscularis mucosae.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluation of lymphatic invasion on the basis of LY is more accurate for the prediction of N than conventional techniques, and LY grade strongly correlates with N. In patients with SSCCE, mucosal cancers (m1, m2, and m3) and submucosal cancers with a depth of invasion of ≤ 200 μm from the lower margin of the muscularis mucosae on endoscopic mucosal resection have a low risk of N if the number of LY is 0. Endoscopic mucosal resection alone can provide good treatment outcomes in such patients.

Vascular Invasion in Triple-Negative Carcinoma of the Breast Identified by Endothelial Lymphatic and Blood Vessel Markers

The aim of this study was to determine lymph vessel invasion (LVI) and blood vessel invasion (BVI) using established biological markers and clinicopathological findings for triple-negative breast carcinoma. We reviewed all 202 cases of primary breast carcinoma that were surgically resected at Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical School, between 2006 and 2009. Tumor tissue was immunostained for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Her2/neu, D2-40, and CD34. Among these, 26 cases of triple-negative carcinoma were reported retrospectively. The results were compared with those of 176 cases of non-triple-negative carcinomas that were included as controls. The frequency of LVI examined by hematoxylin and eosin and D2-40 (triple negative, 7 of 26; non—triple negative, 61 of 176) was not significantly different, and neither was BVI examined by HE, Elastica van Gieson, CD34 (triple negative, 2 of 26; non—triple negative, 16 of 176), and lymph node metastasis (triple negative 9 of 26, non—triple negative, 65 of 176). However, a specific pattern of distant metastasis with a high frequency of visceral metastases was detected in triple-negative carcinoma cases (triple negative, 6 of 26; non—triple negative, 8 of 176). Our findings show that triple-negative carcinoma of the breast may have a distinct biological behavior.

Grading system for lymph vessel tumor emboli: significant outcome predictor for patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast who received neoadjuvant therapy

The purpose of this study was to confirm that the grades of lymph vessel tumor emboli in biopsy specimens obtained before neoadjuvant therapy and in the surgical specimens obtained after neoadjuvant therapy according to the grading system we devised are significant histological outcome predictor for invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) patients who received neoadjuvant therapy. The subjects of this study were the 318 consecutive IDC patients who had received neoadjuvant therapy in our institution. The lymph vessel tumor embolus grades in the biopsy specimens and in the surgical specimens were significantly associated with the increases in mean number of nodal metastases. Multivariate analyses with well-known prognostic factors and p53 expression in tumor-stromal fibroblasts clearly showed that the lymph vessel tumor embolus grade based on the biopsy specimens and based on the surgical specimens significantly increased the hazard rates for tumor recurrence and tumor-related death in all the IDC patients as a whole, in the IDC patients who did not have nodal metastasis, and in the IDC patients who had nodal metastasis, and the outcome-predictive power of the lymph vessel tumor embolus grades based on the surgical specimens was superior to that of the lymph vessel tumor embolus grades based on the biopsy specimens. The grades in the grading system for lymph vessel tumor emboli were significantly associated with nodal metastasis, and the histological grading system is an excellent system for accurately predicting the outcome of patients with IDC of the breast who have received neoadjuvant therapy.

Grading system for lymph vessel tumor emboli: significant outcome predictor for invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast

The purpose of this study was to confirm that the grading system for lymph vessel tumor emboli is a significant histologic outcome predictor for patients with invasive ductal carcinoma. The subjects of this study were 1042 invasive ductal carcinoma patients who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. We classified all invasive ductal carcinomas according to the grading system for lymph vessel tumor emboli we devised, and performed multivariate analyses with well-known prognostic factors. Of 1042 carcinomas, 666, 250, 97, and 29 were classified according to the grading system for lymph vessel tumor emboli as grade 0 (no lymph vessel invasion), grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3, respectively. The univariate analyses showed that the difference in outcome between the group with grade 0 and the group with grade 1 was not significant, but that survival time was significantly shorter in the group of patients with grade 2 carcinomas than in the group with grade 1 carcinomas and significantly shorter in the group of patients with grade 3 carcinomas than in the group with grade 2 carcinomas. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that having a grade 2 or grade 3 carcinoma significantly increased the hazard rates for tumor recurrence and tumor-related death in the patients as a whole as well as in both the group of patients with nodal metastasis and the group without nodal metastasis. The grading system for lymph vessel tumor emboli is an excellent histologic grading system for predicting the outcome of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Tumor histology in lymph vessels and lymph nodes for the accurate prediction of outcome among breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

The present study investigated fibrotic foci (FFs), the grading system for lymph vessel tumor emboli (LVTEs), and the histological characteristics of nodal metastatic tumors that were significantly associated with the outcomes of 115 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) who had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We compared the outcome predictive power of FFs, the grading system for LVTEs, and the histological characteristics of metastatic tumors in lymph nodes with the well-known clinicopathological characteristics of tumor recurrence and tumor-related death in multivariate analyses. The presence of FFs, as assessed by a biopsy performed before neoadjuvant chemotherapy, significantly increased the hazard rates (HRs) for tumor-related death in all the cases and in cases with nodal metastasis. The grading system for LVTEs, which was assessed using surgical specimens obtained after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, was significantly associated with increasing hazard rates (HRs) for tumor recurrence and tumor-related death in all the cases and in cases with nodal metastasis. Moderate to severe stroma in nodal metastatic tumors and five or more mitotic figures in nodal metastatic tumors were significantly associated with elevated HRs for tumor recurrence and tumor-related death among all the cases. These results indicated that FFs, the grading system for LVTEs, and the histological characteristics of tumor cells in lymph nodes play important roles in predicting the tumor progression of IDCs of the breast in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Immunostaining with D2-40 improves evaluation of lymphovascular invasion, but may not predict sentinel lymph node status in early breast cancer

Background

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a widely used diagnostic procedure in the management of early breast cancer. When SLN is free of metastasis, complete axillary dissection may be skipped for staging in clinically N0 patients, allowing a more conservative procedure. Histological tumor features that could reliably predict SLN status have not yet been established. Since the degree of tumor lymphangiogenesis and vascularization may theoretically be related to the risk of lymph node metastasis, we sought to evaluate the relationship between lymph vessel invasion (LVI), lymphatic microvascular density (LVD), microvascular density (MVD) and VEGF-A expression, with SLN status and other known adverse clinical risk factors.

Methods

Protein expression of D2–40, CD34, and VEGF-A was assessed by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections of primary breast cancer specimens from 92 patients submitted to SLN investigation. The presence of LVI, the highest number of micro vessels stained for D2–40 and CD34, and the protein expression of VEGF-A were compared to SLN status, clinicopathological features and risk groups.

Results

LVI was detected in higher ratios by immunostaining with D2–40 (p < 0.0001), what would have changed the risk category from low to intermediate in four cases (4.3%). There was no association between LVI and other angiogenic parameters determined by immunohistochemistry with SLN macrometastases, clinical features or risk categories.

Conclusion

Assessment of LVI in breast carcinoma may be significantly increased by immunostaining with D2–40, but the clinical relevance of altering the risk category using this parameter may not be advocated according to our results, neither can the use of LVI and LVD as predictors of SLN macrometastasis in early breast cancer.

Lymph vascular invasion in invasive mammary carcinomas identified by the endothelial lymphatic marker D2-40 is associated with other indicators of poor prognosis

Background

Immunohistochemical studies of lymphatic vessels have been limited by a lack of specific markers. Recently, the novel D2-40 antibody, which selectively marks endothelium of lymphatic vessels, was released. The aim of our study is to compare lymphatic and blood vessel invasion detected by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) versus that detected by immunohistochemistry, relating them with morphologic and molecular prognostic factors.

Methods

We selected 123 cases of invasive mammary carcinomas stratified into three subgroups according to axillary lymph node status: macrometastases, micrometastases, and lymph node negative. Lymphatic (LVI) and blood (BVI) vessel invasion were evaluated by H&E and immunohistochemistry using the D2-40 and CD31 antibodies, and related to histologic tumor type and grade, estrogen and progesterone receptors, E-cadherin, Ki67, p53, and Her2/neu expression.

Results

LVI was detected in H&E-stained sections in 17/123 cases (13.8%), and in D2-40 sections in 35/123 cases (28.5%) (Kappa = 0.433). BVI was detected in H&E-stained sections in 5/123 cases (4.1%), and in CD31 stained sections in 19/123 cases (15.4%) (Kappa = 0.198). LVI is positively related to higher histologic grade (p = 0.013), higher Ki67 expression (p = 0.00013), and to the presence of macrometastases (p = 0.002), and inversely related to estrogen (p = 0.0016) and progesterone (p = 0.00017) receptors expression.

Conclusion

D2-40 is a reliable marker of lymphatic vessels and is a useful tool for lymphatic emboli identification in immunostained sections of breast carcinomas with higher identification rates than H&E. Lymphatic vessel invasion was related to other features (high combined histologic grade, high Ki67 score, negative hormone receptors expression) associated with worse prognosis, probable reflecting a potential for lymphatic metastatic spread and aggressive behavior.

Lymphatic and angiogenic characteristics in breast cancer: morphometric analysis and prognostic implications

Controversy exists regarding the topography of lymph vessels in breast cancer, their usefulness as prognostic factors, relationship with angiogenesis and whether active lymphangiogenesis occurs within the tumour. A series of 177 well-characterized breast cancers, with long term follow up, were stained with D2-40, CD31 and CD34. Distribution of lymphatics and lymph vessel density (LVD) were assessed in three areas, intratumoural, peripheral and peritumoural and correlated with clinicopathological criteria and patient prognosis. Microvessel density (MVD) was assessed and correlated with LVD. Double immunohistochemical staining with D2-40 and MIB-1 was carried out to assess the proliferative status of lymphatics and of the tumour emboli within. Peritumoural lymphatics were detected in all tumours whereas peripheral and intratumoural lymphatics were detected in 86 and 41% of specimens, respectively. Tumours with higher total LVD were significantly associated with the presence of lymph node (LN) metastasis and shorter overall survival (OS). In multivariate analysis, tumour grade, LN status and the presence of lymphovascular invasion, but not LVD, were independent poor prognostic factors. No association was found between LVD and MVD. Proliferating lymphatics were detected in 29% of specimens and were significantly associated with dense inflammatory infiltrate. In conclusion, lymphatics are located primarily in the peritumoural and peripheral areas in breast cancer and seem to play an important role in disease progression by being routes for tumour dissemination. The lack of correlation between lymphangiogenic and angiogenic characteristics suggests two distinct processes and the presence of active lymphangiogenesis, albeit in a small portion of specimens, may have important therapeutic implications.

Lymphatic metastasis in breast cancer: importance and new insights into cellular and molecular mechanisms

Lymph node metastasis is the main prognosis factor in a number of malignancies, including breast carcinomas. The means by which lymph node metastases arise is not fully understood, and many questions remain about their importance in the further spread of breast cancer. Nevertheless, a number of key cellular and molecular mechanisms of lymphatic metastasis have been identified. These include induction of intra- or peri-tumoral lymphangiogenesis or co-option of existing lymphatic vessels to allow tumour cells to enter the lymphatics, although it remains to be established whether this is primarily an active or passive process. Gene expression microarrays and functional studies in vitro and in vivo, together with detailed clinical observations have identified a number of molecules that can play a role in the genesis of lymph node metastases. These include the well-recognised lymphangiogenic cytokines VEGF-C and VEGF-D as well as chemokine-receptor interactions, integrins and downstream signalling pathways. This paper briefly reviews current clinical and experimental evidence for the underlying mechanisms and significance of lymphatic metastasis in breast cancer and highlights questions that still need to be addressed.