Correlation between microvessel density and tumor cell proliferation with clinical factors in breast carcinomas.

Fifty-nine methacarn-fixed, paraffin-embedded human breast carcinomas were immunostained by QB-END/10 (an antibody to CD34 antigen) to observe microvessels and by PC10 (an antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen; PCNA) to determine tumor cell proliferation; 9 normal human breast tissue specimens were also immunostained by QB-END/10. The number of microvessels in the periphery of the breast carcinoma was significantly greater than both that in the center of the breast carcinoma and that in the normal breast. There was also a significant relationship between the number of microvessels in the periphery of breast carcinomas and the histological tumor size and lymph node status. However, there was no significant relationship between the tumor cell proliferation activity (PCNA positive cell ratio) and any clinical or histopathological variables. The number of microvessels and the tumor cell proliferation activity showed a weak negative correlation.