Assessment of microvessel density in core needle biopsy specimen in breast cancer

AIM: Estimation of microvessel density (MVD) in primary breast cancer in core needle biopsies (CNB) may predict response to systemic therapy. The aim of the present study was to explore the accuracy of assessment of MVD in CNB related to MVD in excised tumours. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MVD was estimated in core biopsies and subsequently excised tumours in 54 consecutive patients with breast cancer without pre-operative treatment. RESULTS: The correlation between MVD in CNB and excised tumours was non-significant. However, in tumours larger than 20 mm (r=0.56, p=0.005) and in lobular carcinomas (r=0.55, p=0.014) a significant correlation was observed. CONCLUSION: The overall accuracy between estimation of MVD on CNB and excised breast tumours was non-significant. The usefulness of MVD in CNB as a marker of response to systemic therapy should be further validated before it can be used in clinical practice.