[Expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor and its receptor mRNA in breast cancer tissues].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor FLT-1, FLK-1 mRNA in breast cancer tissues and their correlation with clinicopathological factors. METHODS: The expression of VEGF and and its receptor FLT-1, FLK-1 mRNA were analyzed by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the specimens from 47 patients with breast cancer and 11 patients with benign breast disease. RESULTS: VEGF121, 165 mRNA were all detected in malignant and benign breast tissues, with higher level, (0.420 +/- 0.133 and 0.291 +/- 0.094 respectively) in breast cancer tissues than in benign breast tissues, [0.196 +/- 0.067 (P = 0.000) and 0.206 +/- 0.058 (P = 0.001) respectively]. VEGF121 mRNA expression was stronger than VEGF165 mRNA expression (P = 0.000) in breast cancer tissues, whereas there is no significant difference in benign breast tissues (P = 0.666). FLT-1, FLK-1 mRNA were expressed in 18 of 47 (38.3%) and 12 of 47 (25.5%) breast cancer tissues respectively, but not in benign breast tissues. Moreover, no correlation was observed between the expression of VEGF121, VEGF165, FLT-1, FLK-1 mRNA in breast cancer tissues and patients' age, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, tumor stages, estrogen or progesterone receptor status. CONCLUSION: The expression of VEGF and its receptor FLT-1, FLK-1 mRNA were up-regulated in breast cancer tissues, suggesting its important role in angiogenesis of breast cancer.