HUBUNGAN ANTARA TUMOR ASSOCIATED MACROPHAGES (TAMs) DENGAN EKSPRESI VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR-C (VEGF-C) PADA SEL KARSINOMA PAYUDARA

Background: VEGF-C is an important cytokine in the lymphangiogenesis process in breast carcinoma. VEGF-C is produced by tumor cells and inflammatory cells, especially TAMs, and after binding with VEGFR-3 it can stimulate proliferation, differentiation, migration, and lymphatic endothelial cell maturation. The relationship between the number of TAMs with VEGF-C expression in breast carcinoma is unclear. Objectives: To study the relationship between the number of peritumoral TAMs with VEGF-C expression in breast carcinoma cells. Methods: Forty one breast carcinoma tissue paraffin blocks were stained with anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody and anti-CD68 with Streptavidin-biotin complex technique with DAB chromogen and Hematoxylin Mayer that expressed CD68 to counterstain. Number of TAMs was counted from the number of macrophages. Cut-off value of TAMs were determined and grouped into high and low. Expression of VEGF-C were assessed on the percentage of tumor cells, that its cytoplasm is expressing VEGF-C. Expression of VEGF-C were grouped into low: negative and positive �10%, high: positive >10%. Relationship between the number of TAMs with VEGF-C expression was analyzed by chi-square test. Results: TAMs cut-off value is 49. The number of samples TAMs high: 53.7%, low: 46.3%. The number of samples with expression of VEGF-C 10%: 87.8%. There was no significant relationship between the number of TAMS with VEGF-C expression in breast carcinoma cells (p = 0.762). Conclusion: In this study, TAMs have not play a role of VEGF-C induced lymphangiogenesis in breast carcinoma cells