Breast angiosarcoma is a rare form of breast cancer that is also highly aggressive. It occurs due to the neoplastic transformation of endothelium plaques that cover the blood vessels that lie around the breast lobules or enfold them to microcapillaries. Protheragen provides comprehensive services to support the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics for breast angiosarcoma.
Overview of Breast Angiosarcoma (BA)
Breast angiosarcoma (BA) is a highly aggressive malignancy which is rare as it develops from the blood vessels in breast tissue. BA takes up about 0.04% of all malignant breast tumors which speaks to the overwhelming complexity it poses. BA can be classified into primary breast angiosarcoma (PBA) and secondary breast angiosarcoma (SBA). PBA cases occur in women aged 30-50 years old without any prior history of cancer or risk factors while the latter affects older women. SBA is usually a result of radiotherapy or chronic lymphedema post mastectomy which is referred to as Stewart-Treves syndrome.
Fig.1 A case study of histopathology of Breast Primary Angiosarcoma. (Darre T.,
et al., 2022)
Pathogenesis of Breast Angiosarcoma (BA)
Breast angiosarcoma (BA) is a rare illness, and its causes are not completely known, but it is thought to be due to chronic lymphedema, exposure to radiation, and high estrogen levels during pregnancy or breastfeeding. BA does contain estrogen and glucocorticoid receptors, though their role is still under contention. Histologically, BA demonstrates remarkable variation and may be graded using Donnell's or Kuba's 2-level system, which determines the level of malignancy and prognosis. For definitive diagnosis and differentiation from other vascular tumors, immunohistochemistry using CD31, CD34, Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1), and Factor VIII-related antigen is critical.
Therapeutics of Breast Angiosarcoma (BA)
| Drug Name |
Target |
Description |
Stage |
| Doxorubicin |
Rapidly dividing cells |
Doxorubicin is an anthracycline antibiotic used as a first-line chemotherapy agent for unresectable or metastatic angiosarcoma. It has been shown to provide progression-free survival of 3.7–5.4 months. |
Approved |
| Paclitaxel |
Microtubules |
Paclitaxel is a taxane that inhibits cell division by stabilizing microtubules. Weekly paclitaxel has demonstrated good tolerability and activity in some studies. |
Approved |
| Docetaxel |
Microtubules |
Docetaxel is another taxane that has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of hemangiosarcoma cells. It is often used in combination with other chemotherapy agents. |
Approved |
| Gemcitabine |
DNA synthesis |
Gemcitabine has been shown to extend progression-free survival in advanced breast angiosarcoma patients. It works by inhibiting DNA synthesis. |
Approved |
| Actinomycin D |
RNA synthesis |
Actinomycin D is an antibiotic that inhibits RNA synthesis, thereby preventing cell division. It has shown effectiveness in some breast angiosarcoma patients. |
Approved |
| Bleomycin |
DNA |
Bleomycin is an antibiotic that causes DNA damage and inhibits cell division. It has shown promising results in the therapeutic of recurrent breast angiosarcoma. |
Approved |
| PI3Ka inhibitors |
PIK3CA mutations |
May show potential for future management of primary angiosarcoma of the breast, given the higher frequency of PIK3CA mutations in breast cancer. |
Preclinical |
Disclaimer: Protheragen focuses on providing preclinical research services. This table is for information exchange purposes only. This table is not a treatment plan recommendation. For guidance on treatment options, please visit a regular hospital.
Our Services
Protheragen offers comprehensive diagnostics and therapeutics development services for breast angiosarcoma, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and scientific expertise. Our services encompass advanced imaging techniques, pathological and immunohistochemical analysis, and the development of targeted therapies.
Diagnostics Development
- Karyotype Analysis Service
- Omics Analysis Service
- Biomarker Development Service
- Artificial Intelligence Service
- Customized Diagnostics Development Service
Therapeutic Development
- Anticancer Peptide
- Gene Therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Monoclonal Antibody
- Phytotherapy
- Small Molecule Drug
- Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine
Disease Models
- 3D Organoid Cultures
- 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)-Anthracene (DMBA) Induced Models
- Methylcholanthrene (MC) Induced Models
- BRCA1 and TP53 GEMMs
Protheragen provides tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of our clients. Whether it's developing novel imaging diagnostics, optimizing existing therapies, or exploring emerging therapy modalities, our team of experts collaborates closely with clients to design and execute customized research plans. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Darre, Tchin, et al. "Breast primary angiosarcoma: a clinicopathologic and imaging study of a series cases." Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research 16 (2022): 11782234221086726.
- An, Ran, et al. "Angiosarcoma of the breast: A review." Heliyon 10.3 (2024).
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
