Molecular and Cellular Pathology

British Journal of Cancer (2003) 89, 1031–1034. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6601195 www.bjcancer.com
Published online 9 September 2003

Glomeruloid microvascular proliferation is associated with p53 expression, germline BRCA1 mutations and an adverse outcome following breast cancer

J R Goffin1,11, O Straume2, P O Chappuis3,4,12, J-S Brunet5,6, L R Bégin7,8,13, N Hamel4, N Wong9, L A Akslen2 and W D Foulkes1,3,5,4,9,10

  1. 1Tufts University Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tufts-New England Medical Center, 750 Washington St., Tufts-NEMC #245 Boston, MA 02111
  2. 2Department of Pathology, The Gade Institute, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
  3. 3Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
  4. 4Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada H2W 1S6
  5. 5Program in Cancer Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2W 1S6
  6. 6Algorithme Pharma, Montreal, Québec, Canada H7V 4B4
  7. 7Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
  8. 8Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
  9. 9Cancer Prevention Center, Sir MB Davis-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada H2W 1S6
  10. 10Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Correspondence: Dr WD Foulkes, Room L10-116, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1A4. E-mail: william.foulkes@mcgill.ca

11JR Goffin's current address: Tufts University Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tufts-New England Medical Center, 750 Washington St., Tufts-NEMC #245 Boston, MA 02111

12PO Clappuis's current address: Divisions of Oncology and Medical Genetics, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland

13LR Bégin's current address: Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, 5400 Boul. Gouin Ouest, Montréal, Québec, Canada H4J 1C5

Received 4 February 2003; Revised 6 June 2003; Accepted 24 June 2003.

Top

Abstract

Glomeruloid microvascular proliferation (GMP) in breast cancer independently adversely affected survival (relative risk 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2–3.0), particularly among women who received adjuvant chemotherapy (10-year survival 27 vs 69%, P=0.0003), and was significantly associated with p53 overexpression and BRCA1 germline mutations. The presence of GMP may influence treatment decisions.

Keywords:

hereditary breast cancer, angiogenesis, factor VIII, chemotheraphy, survival