Prediction of metastasis risk (11 year follow-up) using VEGF-R1, VEGF-R2, Tie-2/Tek and CD105 expression in breast cancer ( n =905)

Tumour growth and metastases require neoangiogenesis in tumour stroma. Neoangiogenesis is a complex multistep process including endothelial cell migration and proliferation, microvessel differentiation and anastomosis, and extracellular matrix remodelling (Folkman, 1995; Ellis and Fidler, 1996; Fox et al, 2001).