OBJECTIVES: Aromatase inhibitors are the first-choice drugs for the treatment of hormone sensitive breast cancer. However, in addition to the scarcity of studies, there are controversies about their effects on vaginal epithelial cell proliferation in rats, especially those in persistent estrus. METHODS: To investigate vaginal epithelial cell proliferation by Ki-67 antigen expression, persistent estrus was induced in 42 randomly selected rats. These rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: group I (control, n=21), which received 0.1 mL of propylene glycol (vehicle) daily, and group II (experimental, n=21), which received 0.5 mg/kg or 0.125 mg/day of anastrozole diluted with 0.1 mL of propylene glycol. RESULTS: Light microscopy showed a higher concentration of cells with brown Ki-67 stained nuclei in the control compared to the experimental group. The mean percentage of Ki-67 stained nuclei per 500 cells in the vaginal epithelium was 68.64±2.64 and 30.46±2.00 [mean±standard error of the mean (SEM)] in the control and experimental groups, respectively (p<0.003). CONCLUSION: This study showed that anastrozole, at the dose and treatment duration selected, significantly decreased cell proliferation in the vaginal mucosa of the rats in persistent estrus.

OBJETIVO: avaliar o efeito do raloxifeno sobre a angiogênese do carcinoma de mama em mulheres menopausadas. MÉTODOS: dezesseis pacientes menopausadas com carcinoma de mama operável, estádio II (diâmetro >3 cm), positivo para receptor de estrógeno, foram incluídas no estudo. Após confirmação do diagnóstico por biópsia incisional, as pacientes receberam 60 mg de raloxifeno diariamente por 28 dias, previamente à cirurgia definitiva. Exame imunohistoquímico foi realizado nas amostras tumorais, obtidas por ocasião da biópsia para diagnóstico e avaliação do status do receptor de estrógeno e da cirurgia definitiva. O anticorpo monoclonal anti-CD34 foi usado como marcador das células endoteliais. A unidade vascular considerada foi qualquer célula ou grupo de células endoteliais coradas, nitidamente separadas de microvasos adjacentes, células tumorais ou tecido conjuntivo, formando ou não lúmen. A contagem de microvasos antes e após tratamento com raloxifeno foi realizada em dez campos aleatórios, usando microscópio acoplado a sistema de captura e análise de imagem (Imagelab®) com magnificação de 400X. O teste t de Student para duas amostras pareadas foi usado para análise estatística dos dados (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: as médias da quantidade de microvasos antes e após o tratamento com raloxifeno foi 44,4±3,5 e 22,6±1,6, respectivamente. Foi observada redução significativa da quantidade de microvasos após tratamento com raloxifeno (p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: o tratamento primário com raloxifeno reduz significantemente a quantidade de microvasos no carcinoma de mama positivo para receptor de estrógeno em mulheres na pós-menopausa.

PURPOSE: to evaluate the effect of raloxifene on breast cancer angiogenesis of menopausal women. METHODS: sixteen menopausal women with stage II (>3 cm) estrogen receptor positive operable breast cancer were enrolled in this study. Following confirmation of the diagnosis by incisional biopsy, the patients received 60 mg raloxifene daily for 28 days prior to the definitive surgery. Immunohistochemical study was performed on the sample tumors obtained during the biopsy for the diagnosis and evaluation of the status of estrogen receptor and during the definitive surgery. The anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody was used as a marker for endothelial cells. The vascular unit was considered as any endothelial cell or group of cells of a brownish color, clearly separated from adjacent microvessels, tumor cells or other connective tissue, forming or not lumen. Microvessel count was performed in ten fields of each slide using a 40X objective lens (400X magnification). A microscope coupled to a system of capture and analysis of image was used (Imagelab®). Statistical analysis of data was carried out using the paired Student t-test and significance level was established at p<0.05. RESULTS: mean numbers of anti-CD34 antibody-stained microvessels before and after raloxifene treatment were 44.4±3.5 and 22.6±1.6, respectively. A significant reduction in the number of microvessels following raloxifene therapy was observed (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: when administered as primary therapy for menopausal women with breast carcinoma, raloxifene significantly reduced tumoral angiogenesis.