Objective: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship of CD44 and VEGF expression to axillary lymph node metastasis that is one of the most important prognostic factors in invasive breast carcinoma.

Material and Method: This retrospective study included 62 invasive breast carcinoma patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection between 1990-2000 in Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine (FUTF) Department of Pathology. The pathological specimens of this patients were evaluated in terms of classical prognostic factors of breast cancer. Afterwards, immunohistochemical staining was performed using the streptavidinbiotin peroxidase method to determine CD44 and VEGF expression in tumor cells.

Results: The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 50.22±11.57 years for patients. Seventeen of the cases (32.2%) had no lymph node metastasis. Twenty-one (33.9%) of 42 patients with lymph node involvement had 1 to 3 metastases and 24 (38.7%) had 4 to 9 metastases. There was no significant correlation between CD44 and VEGF expression and some classical prognostic factors such as age, macroscopic tumor diameter, lymphovascular invasion, and inflammatory reaction. However, lymph node metastasis and CD44 and VEGF expression were found to be statistically related (Anova p <0.001, p =0.013, respectively). Furthermore, CD44 and VEGF expression were determined to correlate with histological type, histological grade and stage.

Conclusion: As a result; in breast carcinoma, the expression of CD44 and VEGF is of interest as a prognostic indicator.