Features of Blood Supply to Axillary Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Numerical density of vessels in axillary lymph node structures in breast cancer patients was studied by light microscopy with antibodies to CD34. The correlation between the stage of breast cancer and vascularization of lymph nodes was analyzed. The development of breast cancer was followed by rapid and significant increase in the number of blood vessel in axillary lymph nodes in general and in all their specific areas, especially in the paracortex and medullary substance. Strong or very strong positive correlation between the stage of tumor process and parameters of vascularization was observed in various areas of the axillary lymph nodes. No significant differences in node vascularization were observed between women without breast cancer and women with stage I breast cancer; the differences were found only starting from stage II. Considerable vascularization of lymph nodes can be a symptom of malignant tumor growth in the area of lymph collection. The duration of the tumor process and the size of the tumor can be indirectly evaluated by the increase in vessel number in lymph nodes.

Cancer Angiogenesis and Opportunity of Influence on Tumor by Changing Vascularization

“…This marker is associated with tumor angiogenesis [13]. (d) LN at BC stage IIIa, small CD34+ vessels infiltrate practically the total medullar substance of parenchyma [8,9].…”

“…At the same time, no significant differences in LN vascularization were found between women who have no cancer and women who have stage I tumors; the differences can be found only starting from stage II. What young, newly formed vessels in the nodes looks like is shown in Figure 1 [ 8 , 9 ].…”

“…Immunohistochemical reaction with CD34 antibodies stained with diamidobenzidine and hematoxylin: ( a ) control LN, few CD34+ vessels in the superficial part of the cortex and paracortex, waste areas of the cortical substance free from CD34+ structures; ( b ) control LN, due to the postmortem changes, the medullary cords and sinuses lost well-defined structure, cell composition rare, single CD34+ vessels located at the edge of cords and sinuses, no CD34+ structures observed in the huge areas of the medullary substance; ( c ) LN at BC stage IIIa, small CD34+ vessels infiltrate practically the total cortical substance, walls of these vessels consist of one cell layer. ( d ) LN at BC stage IIIa, small CD34+ vessels infiltrate practically the total medullar substance of parenchyma [ 8 , 9 ].…”