Objectives:

This study aims to investigate the anti-endothelial cell antibody presence in breast cancer patients and its relationship with metastasis.

Patients and methods:

Between May 2006 and May 2007 a total of 98 female participants including 36 patients who were diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma and 62 healthy volunteers were included. Anti-endothelial cell antibody positivity was investigated with immunofluorescence microscope using slides prepared with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and primate skeletal muscle sections.

Results:

Anti-endothelial cell antibody positivity was statistically significantly higher in cancer patients compared to the control group (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in anti-endothelial cell antibody positivity between metastatic and non-metastatic breast cancer patients (p>0.05). There was a statically significant difference in the antibody positivity among metastatic and non-metastatic cancer patients and healthy controls (p<0.0001 and p<0.05, respectively).

Conclusion:

Endothelial cell damage plays a role in the development and metastasis of breast cancer. According to our study results, identifying the presence of anti-endothelial cell antibody in breast cancer patients may be a useful marker in the management of complications associated with endothelial dysfunction and control of disease-associated prognosis.

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