Quantitation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells as Markers of Tumor Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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We propose to quantitate endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in early and advanced breast cancer patients. Peripheral blood will be drawn from the eligible patients. Different type of EPCs will be isolated from the blood and quantitated.

Detailed Description
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Accumulating evidence emphasizes the emerging role of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in tumor angiogenesis as surrogate markers and in the efficacy of anti-angiogenic therapies in breast cancer (22-27). Furstenberger et al. (22) reported that CECs were significantly elevated in breast cancer patients and decreased during chemotherapy (anthracycline and/or taxane based). However, EPCs (CD34+/VEGFR-2+) as well as their progenitor cell population CD133+/CD34+ and the population of CD34+ stem cells increased together with VEGF, erythropoietin and angiopoietin-2 levels. Their data suggest that chemotherapy reduces mature CECs, while mobilizing the EPC population. Using real-time PCR and flow cytometry, they also showed that CD146, an endothelial cell specific antigen, was significantly increased in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients compared to healthy controls (23). Other studies also reported increased circulating EPCs in breast cancer patients in addition to CECs (24,25). In another study, circulating EPCs were not increased in cancer patients despite the high plasma VEGF levels (26). Another interesting aspect is that Mancuso et al (27) showed that CEC kinetics correlate with progression-free and overall survival but not circulating progenitor cells in metastatic breast cancer.

Official Title
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Quantitation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells as Markers of Tumor Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer

Conditions
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Breast Cancer Stage IV, Breast Cancer Stage I, Breast Cancer Stage II

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Blood Draw


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer(stage IV), or women with a history of Stage I or II breast cancer disease who are currently disease free Women greater than or equal to 18 years of age Ability to understand and the willingness to sign an informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery within the past 4 weeks.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Case<br>Women with breast cancer | Procedure: Blood Draw<br>* Blood sample will be drawn from a vein in the arm.<br>|
| Control<br>Women without breast cancer | Procedure: Blood Draw<br>* Blood sample will be drawn from a vein in the arm.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| To quantitate endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in early and advanced breast cancer patients. Different type of EPCs will be isolated from the blood and quantitated. |  | Day 1 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Breast Cancer