Immunohistochemical study on tumor angiogenic factors in non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
In order to elucidate the roles of tumor angiogenesis in lung carcinogenesis, the expressions of several angiogenic factors in lung carcinoma tissues were examined.


METHODS
Tissue specimens from 112 cases of resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were studied. The expressions of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were examined immunohistochemically. Microvessel density (MVD) was also evaluated.


RESULTS
VEGF-positive cases were observed more frequently in advanced stage lung cancers than in early cancers, and VEGF-positive tumors had higher MVD than VEGF-negative tumors, while such differences were not observed for PD-ECGF. In squamous cell carcinoma, the patients with high-MVD tumor had significantly worse survival than those with low-MVD tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that VEGF plays an important role in angiogenesis of lung cancers, while the contribution of PD-ECGF may be limited.
Aikawa
H
H
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Takahashi
H
H
Fujimura
S
S
Sato
M
M
Endo
C
C
Sakurada
A
A
Kondo
T
T
Tanita
T
T
Matsumura
Y
Y
Ono
S
S
Saito
Y
Y
Sagawa
M
M
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D005169:Factor VIII; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase