Objective: Poor immunogenicity has been described in breast carcinoma although dendritic cells, the major antigen presenters, are known to infiltrate the tumor. Vascular endothelial growth factor has been proposed to reduce local immune response in tumors. We investigated the maturation status of dendritic cells in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast in relation to vascular endothelial growth factor expression and clinicopathological parameters.

Material and Method: Fifty invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast were immunostained with CD1a (marker of immature dendritic cells); CD83 (marker of mature dendritic cells), vascular endothelial growth factor, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor.

Results: Mature dendritic cells were detected in 36 cases (72%), and correlated with smaller tumor size, negative lymph nodes, positive steroid receptor status, and lower grade (P<0.001). Immature dendritic cells were found in 100% of cases and correlated only with negative steroid receptor expression (estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor) (P=0.006 and 0.020 respectively). Vascular endothelial growth factor expression was detected in 44 cases (88%), and correlated directly with positive nodal metastases (P=0.014), correlated inversely with mature dendritic cell count (P=0.005); and did not correlate with immature dendritic cell count (P=0.104).

Conclusion: Mature dendritic cell count correlates with good prognostic features in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, suggesting their role in initiating primary anti-tumor immune response. Vascular endothelial growth factor expression may play a role in inhibition of dendritic cell maturation sequence in the tumor microenvironment.