Vascular endothelial growth factor-A expression is significantly correlated with HER2 expression in late-stage breast cancer patients

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Saputra, Teddy Agung^a | Indra, Indra^b; | Syamsu, Salman Ardi^b | Sampepajung, Elridho^b | Nelwan, Berti Julian^c | Hamid, Firdaus^d | Faruk, Muhammad^a

Affiliations: [a] Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia | [b] Division of Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University – Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, Makassar, Indonesia | [c] Department of Pathology Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia | [d] Department of Public Health and Community Medicine Science, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Indra, Division of Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan KM 11, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia. Fax: +62 41 158 59 84; E-mail: indrasurg@yahoo.co.id. ORCIDs: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7162-8845 (S.A. Syamsu); https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1788-0836 (F. Hamid); https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7079-4585 (M. Faruk)

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Molecular marker analysis has become important in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and may reveal new mechanisms in breast cancer pathogenesis. Aside from the commonly used hormonal receptors and HER2, VEGF-A has been increasingly shown to be important in breast cancer diagnosis and pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to determine the relationship between VEGF-A expression on ER and PR and HER2 hormonal status in patients with late-stage breast cancer (locally advanced or with distant metastases). METHODS:This observational, cross-sectional study examined VEGF-A expression and molecule markers (ER, PR, and HER2) of breast cancer tissue using immunohistochemistry. The Chi-square test was used to determine whether two categorical variables were correlated. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS:VEGF-A showed no significant correlation with demographic characteristics, TNM staging, pathological grading, luminal or non-luminal type, or hormonal receptor markers but showed a significant positive correlation with HER2 receptors (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS:VEGF-A was positively correlated with HER2 expression in breast tumor tissue but showed no significant correlation with other breast cancer markers, including luminal typing or hormonal receptors. Further study is needed to understand the mechanistic interplay between VEGF and HER2 in breast cancer pathogenesis.

Keywords: Breast cancer, locally advanced breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer

DOI: 10.3233/BD-229006

Journal: Breast Disease, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 433-438, 2022