Angiogenesis is crucial for tumor growth and metastasis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical hypervascular tumor. However, the relationship between tumor vascularity and the outcome of patients with HCC has not been evaluated. To clarify whether tumor angiogenesis is related to the prognosis of patients, immunohistochemical staining, using anti-von Willebrand factor (vWF) and anti-CD34, was applied in resected specimens from 43 cases of HCC. In nonmalignant tissue, staining was confined to vessels in the portal tract and to a few periportal sinusoids with both of the endothelial markers applied. In tumor tissue, however, sinusoid-like vessels reacted intensively with anti-CD34 but not with anti-vWF. The intratumor microvessel density (MVD) highlighted by anti-CD34 was 297 +/- 88 (per 0.74 mm2), which was significantly higher than that highlighted by anti-vWF (4 +/- 7). When only the MVD highlighted by anti-CD34 was analyzed, tumor diameter larger than 2 cm, poor differentiation (Edmondson's II to IV), and portal invasion were significantly related to the subgroup with MVD > or = 290. Overall survival curves of patients with MVD < 290 were better, and these patients were more likely to remain tumor free. Cox hazards model revealed intratumor MVD and Edmondson's grade to be independent prognostic factors for the overall survival of patients. These results demonstrated for the first time that tumor angiogenesis assessed by anti-CD34 was correlated with the outcome of patients with HCC, suggesting a potential role for anti-CD34 in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Angiogenesis is crucial for tumor growth and metastasis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical hypervascular tumor. However, the relationship between tumor vascularity and the outcome of patients with HCC has not been evaluated. To clarify whether tumor angiogenesis is related to the prognosis of patients, immunohistochemical staining, using anti-von Willebrand factor (vWF) and anti-CD34, was applied in resected specimens from 43 cases of HCC. In nonmalignant tissue, staining was confined to vessels in the portal tract and to a few periportal sinusoids with both of the endothelial markers applied. In tumor tissue, however, sinusoid-like vessels reacted intensively with anti-CD34 but not with anti-vWF. The intratumor microvessel density (MVD) highlighted by anti-CD34 was 297 +/- 88 (per 0.74 mm2), which was significantly higher than that highlighted by anti-vWF (4 +/- 7). When only the MVD highlighted by anti-CD34 was analyzed, tumor diameter larger than 2 cm, poor differentiation (Edmondson's II to IV), and portal invasion were significantly related to the subgroup with MVD > or = 290. Overall survival curves of patients with MVD < 290 were better, and these patients were more likely to remain tumor free. Cox hazards model revealed intratumor MVD and Edmondson's grade to be independent prognostic factors for the overall survival of patients. These results demonstrated for the first time that tumor angiogenesis assessed by anti-CD34 was correlated with the outcome of patients with HCC, suggesting a potential role for anti-CD34 in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

A 64-year-old postmenopausal female had been treated with insulin therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus for 18 years, but her diabetes mellitus was not well controlled and she developed retinopathy. Her screening mammography showed abnormal findings, and thus she consulted a hospital. A physical examination showed her mammary glands to be hard on both sides and no palpable mass was observed. Mammography revealed an amorphous calcification in the middle outer portion of the left breast. Ultrasonography showed an irregular hypoechoic mass measuring about 11 mm in size in the upper outer portion of the left breast. Although a core-needle biopsy specimen of the hypoechoic mass showed hyalinizing fibrosis without any evidence of malignancy, a stereotactic guided vacuum-assisted biopsy was performed because magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enhanced area in the region of the amorphous calcification that could not be distinguished from breast cancer. The histological findings indicated noninvasive ductal carcinoma, and therefore a quardrantectomy with a sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed. The pathological diagnosis was invasive ductal carcinoma (0.7 × 0.3 cm) with a predominant intraductal component accompanying diabetic mastopathy. The sentinel lymph nodes demonstrated no metastasis. The surgical margin was positive for carcinoma and the patient later underwent a mastectomy. No malignant cells were observed in the specimen. The patient has so far experienced no recurrence after surgery.