Influence of VEGF, COX-2, and MMP-9 expression on the molybdenum-targeted X-ray in breast cancer

To investigate the correlation of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) in breast cancer tissues with molybdenum-targeted X-ray images.

Sixtynine patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast confirmed by molybdenum-targeted mammography, surgical, and pathologic examinations were enrolled. The expression of VEGF, COX-2, and MMP-9 were detected by immunohistochemical staining (IHS) and the correlation of VEGF, COX-2, and MMP-9 expression and classification of breast cancer on molybdenum-targeted X-ray was statistically analyzed.

The expression of VEGF, COX-2, and MMIP-9 were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in spiculation group (n = 50), vascular abnormalities group (n = 21), and lymph node metastasis group (n = 29),than the other three groups, respectively. However, the expression of VEGF, COX-2, and MMP-9 had no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the group with (n = 30) and without (n = 39) calcification.

Expression of VEGF, COX-2, and MMP-9 is highly correlated to the mammaographic appearance of spiculation, vascular abnormalities, and lymph node metastasis. However, the present results suggest that expression of VEGF, COX-2, and MMP-9 is either not or weakly correlated to mammographic appereance of calcification.