Background
Tissue factor (TF), the primary initiator of coagulation, has been shown to stimulate angiogenesis, which is crucial for the development and metastasis of solid tumours, in part by upregulating vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF). Angiogenesis in invasive breast cancer is well documented, but little is known about the role of angiogenesis in premalignant breast disease, or when the angiogenic switch occurs during the development of breast malignancy. This study therefore quantifies angiogenesis, VEGF and TF in the hyperplasia, preinvasive, invasive breast carcinoma sequence.