ABSTRACT

LYVE–1 is a -recently identified- selective lymphatic endothelial surface receptor which plays mainly role on transportation of hyaluronan from extracellular matrix to the regional lymph nodes. In a few cancer studies, relationships between LYVE–1/Hyaluronan and lymphatic invasion and metastasis has been shown. However, predictive values of peritumoral or intratumoral LYVE–1 positivity for the assesment of regional lymphatic invasion is unknown. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether the peri/intratumoral LYVE–1 immunoreactivity related to sentinel lymph node status in 25 breast-cancer-patients. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy was performed by using combined technique with vital blue dye and hand-held gamma probe dedection in patients with early breast cancer. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed in all patients. Metastases to sentinel lymph nodes was evaluated both Hematoxylene/Eosine (HE) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Serial sections which contain both invasive tumor and peri-tumoral area from the original block were cut (4 um) and stained with HE and LYVE–1. “LYVE1 antibody-lymphatic vessel marker” was used for IHC analysis. The sensitivity and specifity of the method were established as 67% and 71% respectively. The LYVE–1 positivity was mostly peritumoral (85 %) Negative and positive predictive values of LYVE–1 immunostaining were 77% and 60% respectively. On conlusion, as a novel lymphangiogenesis marker LYVE–1, has limited predictive values for the evaluation of sentinel lymph node metastasis in patients with early breast cancer.