Abstract:
Introduction. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in females worldwide. There are evidences that women
with diabetes mellitus have a 40% higher risk of mortality. CD34 is a cell surface glycoprotein, which functions as a cellcell adhesion factor. Although its expression is traditionally related to hematopoietic cells, it is actually found on many
other types of cells, endothelial too. Nowadays there are evidences that CD34 is a prognostic indicator by emphasizing
its low expression in malignant tumors compared to benign ones. The aim of study was to determine the presence and
numerical distribution of CD34+
vessels in the normal mammary gland, as well as in NST breast carcinomas, with and
without diabetes mellitus type 2.
Materials and methods. We processed immunohistochemically 58 invasive breast carcinomas of NST type. In 29 of cases,
tumors were associated with diabetes.
Results. The present study did not reveal any statistical and morphological differences in CD34 expression between
compared groups.
Conclusions. The expression of CD34 in breast cancer stroma is not homogenous, irrespective of association with diabetes
mellitus type 2. The question if breast carcinoma and diabetes mellitus are concurrent or associated disorders remains
open. Probably, the effect of carcinoma prevails in influencing the structure of the tumor microenvironment. We expect a
further confirmation in larger study groups.
