Peritumoral Lymphangiogenesis in Breast Carcinoma

• S.K. Gantsev

  Research Institute of Oncology, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Russian Federation

• S.R. Kzyrgalin

  Research Institute of Oncology, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Russian Federation

• K.S. Gantsev

  Research Institute of Oncology, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Russian Federation

Objective: to assess the correlation between microscopically discernible peritumoral lymphangiogenesis and breast carcinoma survival rates; to reveal the regularities of macroscopic changes in the structure of axillary lymphatic system in breast cancer.

Materials and Methods: We carried out morphometric examination of axillary tissue complexes that had been taken from 100 women during surgery for breast carcinoma, stage T_1-3N_1-2M₀ and had been treated with sonolipodistruction. The density of realized lymphatic vessels was determined by counting the number of lymphangiogenesis "points". An anastomosis between individual lymphatic vessels was taken as a "point". Correlation of macroscopically distinguishable peritumoral lymphangiogenesis expression and survival rate was determined using Pearson's parametric analysis.

Results: The analysis of lymphatic maps allowed us to reveal some patterns of axillary lymphatic collector reorganization in breast carcinoma and to distinguish the following types: "Sequential", "Magistral", "Uniform", "Radial" and "Reticulate". Based on the results of prospective observation, 16 patients from the observation group died within the period of 5 years. According to the Pearson correlation analysis, the correlation coefficient was 0,87, the determination coefficient was 0,7488, the value of p = 0,000015, which indicates that in the breast carcinoma, stage T_1-3 N1_-2 M₀ there is a statistically significant direct correlation between the number of "points" of macroscopically distinguishable peritumoral lymphangiogenesis and lifespan after a radical surgical treatment. Lymphatic vessels in the process of peritumoral lymphangiogenesis are the indicator of compensatory-protective resources condition.

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