Correlative Study of Tumor Hypoxia and Metastatic Potential in Breast Cancer.

摘要

To study if tumor hypoxia is associated with metastatic potential in breast carcinoma. Breast cancer patients enrolled in an IRB approved study receive hypoxia marker pimonidazole intravenously. Tumor biopsy specimens are examined for pimonidazole binding (hypoxia) and for the bimolecular markers. Regional node metastases data are recorded. Presence of tumor hypoxia has been demonstrated in 8 of 27 patients studied. Tumor hypoxia ranges from 0-33% by an image analysis system. A semiquantitative grading scale of 0-4 (0 = no hypoxia, 4 = highest amount of hypoxia) is useful in breast cancer hypoxia assessments. It is less expensive, can be easily learnt, and can be readily adopted by any clinical immunohistochemistry laboratory. Tumor hypoxia as detected by pimonidazole hypoxia marker ranges from 0-4 on this scale. No toxicities related to pimonidazole administration or the hypoxia marker procedures have been observed. Preliminary data of tumor hypoxia and microvessel density have been presented. The preliminary data show the presence of tumor hypoxia in 30% of the patients studied. Tumor hypoxia in several other cancers is associated with adverse prognosis and tumor aggressiveness. Pimonidazole hypoxia method can be a useful tool to study the significance of tumor hypoxia in breast cancer prognosis and tumor aggressiveness.