title: Inverse correlation between apoptotic (Fas ligand, caspase-3) and angiogenic factors (VEGF, microvessel density) in squamous cell lung carcinomas.
abstract: In order to explore whether apoptosis is associated with angiogenesis in lung cancer, immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the pro-apoptotic factors Fas ligand (FasL) and caspase-3 (Cas-3) in 70 squamous cell lung carcinomas. Furthermore, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the microvessel density (MVD) were analyzed. The comparison between MVD and the pro-apoptotic factors demonstrated that the apoptotic factors are inversely related to MVD (Cas-3: p = 0.011, FasL: not significant). In order to confirm this result, FasL and Cas-3 were also compared with the expression of VEGF. Again, an inverse correlation between VEGF and the pro-apoptotic factors was found (Cas-3: p = 0.019, FasL: p = 0.008). The inverse correlation between angiogenesis and apoptosis may be explained by the activation of pro-apoptotic and anti-angiogenic factors caused by hypoxia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncological Diagnostics and Therapy, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volm
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mattern
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koomägi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D002196:Capillaries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000032:analysis*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008222:Lymphokines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases