OBJECTIVE: To verify the expression of CD105 in primary breast cancer, and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in primary breast cancer and in the respective axillary lymph nodes. METHODS: Seventy two women from 18 to 80 years of age, with a diagnosis of Ductal Infiltrative Breast Cancer, stage II, histological type non special, with their respective axillary lymph nodes were submitted to surgical treatment at the "Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição" between 2001 and 2002. Immunohistochemical analyses of CD 105 in the primary breast cancer and of COX 2 in the local axillary lymph node were compared for local recurrence. RESULTS: Of the 72 patients with primary tumors, 40 had positive axillary lymph nodes, while 32 were negative. For each primary tumor, only one lymph node was analyzed. . Fifteen patients had local recurrence after 26 months (CI 95% 24-28). Presence of COX-2 in the primary tumors was verified in 52 cases, and presence of CD105 in 34 cases. These independent prognostic factors were not correlated to local recurrence (P= 0.203 e P=0.145, respectively). The period free of local recurrence for patients with positive expression of COX-2 in axillary lymph nodes (with metastasis or not) was of 19 months, while patients with negative expression had a 28.3 months long period free of local recurrence. CONCLUSION: The positive expression of COX-2 in axillary lymph nodes (either positive or negative) seems to be an independent prognostic factor for local recurrence.
Breast cancer; Cyclooxygenase 2; CD105
