VLA, expression was immunohistochemically investigated in 145 breast carcinomas. Frozen tissue sections were probed with monoclonal anti-VLA, using automated (Ventana ES 320 system) and quantitative (SAMBA 2005 image processor) immunoperoxidase. A positive anti-VLA, immunoreaction was observed in 86 tumors (23.5%) within epithelial cells of carcinomas. The positive surface in tumors varied from 3% to 38% (mean = 13.8%, SD=11.5) and was independent of the tumor size, grade, type and aneuploidy, and of nodal status. VLA(2) was significantly correlated with VCAM (p<0.01), VLA(2) (p<0.01), E cadherin (p=0.025), and CD44 v (p<0.01), and an inverse relationship was observed with Ki67/MIB 1 (p=0.0024) and P-53 (p=0.034). In contrast VLA, expression proved to be independent of Bcl-2, c-erbB-2, cathepsin D, tenascin, CD31, ELAM, RE, RP, PS2 immunohistochemical expression. The results suggest that VLA, expression in tumors is related to the regulation of other adhesion molecules involved in the metastasis process, but the prognostic significance and clinical relevance of VLA, immunodetection in breast carcinomas remain to be demonstrated.

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