Intratumoral and peritumoral lymphatic vessel density both correlate with lymph node metastasis in breast cancer

Abstract

The status of lymph node involvement is an important prognostic factor for breast cancer. However, the presence of intratumoral lymphatic vessels in primary tumor lesions and the relationship between lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and lymph node metastasis (LNM) have not been firmly established. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis study to investigate these issues. According to the pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria, 13 studies, involving 1029 breast cancer patients, were included in this study. Using immunohistochemical staining, intratumoral lymphatic vessels were detected in 40.07% of breast cancer patients (240/599), and peritumoral lymphatics were detected in 77.09% (397/515). All studies demonstrated that peritumoral LVD was higher than intratumoral LVD, with a pooled standard mean difference and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 1.75 (1.28 to 2.21). Both intratumoral LVD and peritumoral LVD positively correlated with LNM, with correlation coefficients of 0.14 (95% CI 0.05 to 0.23) and 0.31 (95% CI 0.13 to 0.49), respectively. In summary, our study reports the overall detection rate of intratumoral lymphatics and demonstrates the associations between intratumoral LVD, peritumoral LVD, and LNM in breast cancer. Additionally, controlled studies with a larger number of subjects are needed to establish these relationships.

Quantitative Three-Dimensional Assessment of the Pharmacokinetic Parameters of Intra- and Peri-tumoural Tissues on Breast Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“…The peri-tumoural area supports the wound response-like process, the inflammatory response, the increased vascular density, and the permeability of the vessels of the tumour, and consists of an extracellular matrix and various cell types [29]. Peri-tumoural markers are associated with the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy [12,30,31], hyaluronan accumulation, and lymph node metastasis [13,14,32,33], pathological biomarkers [34], prognosis [35,36], and the molecular subtype of the tumour [37]. However, the methods used to measure and extract data from the peritumoural region vary widely.…”

<p>Communication Of Cancer Cells And Lymphatic Vessels In Cancer: Focus On Bladder Cancer</p>

“…65 Multiple investigations give attention to the ITLs and PTLs, and their role in malignancy development and progression. Interestingly, Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) [66][67][68][69] and high LVDs [70][71][72] could be strongly prognostic factor for tumor aggressiveness and an indicator of occult metastases in several malignancies, including UCB as well, 13,73,74 while some retrospective analysis however controversially indicated LVDs is not associated with survival in various cancer in statistics (e.g., melanoma, breast cancer), thus, more research is needed in this part.…”

Detection and prognostic value of intratumoral and peritumoral lymphangiogenesis in colorectal cancer

“…It has been reported that there is a close relationship between increased lymphangiogenesis and metastatic spread Original Article Detection and prognostic value of intratumoral and peritumoral lymphangiogenesis in colorectal cancer in studies of other human cancers (2)(3)(4)(5)(6). For example, in head and neck cancers, malignant melanoma, and prostate and breast cancer, increased intratumoral or peritumoral lymphatic vessel density (LVD) has been found to be associated with metastatic spread and poorer prognosis.…”

“…In gastric cancer, thyroid papillary carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma of the head, neck, and esophagus, intratumoral LVD (LVDit) was predictive of lymphatic metastasis (12)(13)(14)(15). Meanwhile, peritumoral LVD (LVDpt) has been associated with lymph node metastases in cutaneous melanoma, breast cancer, prostate adenocarcinoma, and uterine cervix carcinoma (3)(4)(5)(6). However, the function of different lymphatic vessels in CRC is still elusive and controversial.…”