Tumor angiogenesis: an independent prognostic parameter in cervical cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the intensity of tumor angiogenesis, expressed as microvessel density, is a parameter predicting the probability of lymph node metastasis and survival in patients with cervical cancer stages IB and IIA.


METHODS
In a retrospective study of 114 patients with cervical cancer stages IB and IIA, microvessel density, lymph node status, and several other prognostic parameters were correlated with disease-free survival by a multivariate analysis according to Cox proportional-hazards model.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in mean microvessel density between tumors with and without pelvic lymph node metastasis (p = 0.002). Both microvessel density (vessels per square millimeter of stroma). (p = 0.05) and pelvic lymph node metastasis (p = 0.007) correlated significantly and independently with disease-free survival.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that microvessel density is an independent prognostic parameter for disease-free survival in patients with cervical cancer stages Ib and IIa.
Bremer
G L
GL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Tiebosch
A T
AT
van der Putten
H W
HW
Schouten
H J
HJ
de Haan
J
J
Arends
J W
JW
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010388:Pelvis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology