Research VEGF
Genentech Biooncology

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Prevalence of VEGF-expressing breast tumors

Breast tumor characteristics and VEGF expression4

VariablePositive for VEGF165Positive for VEGF121
Overall
74% (453/611)
59% (359/611)
HER-2/neu
  Negative
  Positive

71% (353/497)
88% (100/114)

55% (271/497)
77% (88/114)
Lymph nodes
  Negative
  Positive

72% (210/290)
75% (233/310)

53% (155/290)
63% (196/310)
Hormone receptor status
  Negative
  Positive


80% (109/137)
72% (343/474)


73% (100/137)
55% (259/474)
Histology
  Invasive ductal
  Invasive lobular

78% (432/554)
22% (8/37)

61% (340/554)
19% (7/37)

Konecny et al showed that the majority of breast tumors overexpressed either of 2 isoforms of VEGF—VEGF165 or VEGF121. The investigators also examined the relationship between VEGF expression and other important factors such as HER-2/neu status and lymph node involvement.4

In general, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression has been observed in a majority of analyzed breast tumor samples.5,13 In a large analysis of tumors from unselected breast cancer patients (N=611), expression of 2 isoforms of VEGF—VEGF121 and VEGF165—was observed in the majority of samples. VEGF expression was consistent across a number of important disease-related variables in breast carcinoma.4

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VEGF and metastasis

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