Quantification of angiogenesis by a computerized image analysis system in renal cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain whether tumor angiogenesis quantitated by a computerized image analysis system correlates with clinical outcome in renal cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Microvessels were immunohistochemically labeled with antibodies to CD34 in sections from 62 cases of renal cell carcinoma. Computerized image analysis was used to evaluate the mean microvessel count (MMC) and mean percentage microvessel area (MPMA).


RESULTS
MMC ranged from 19.3 to 315.0, while MPMA was 0.6-17.9%. There was a highly significant correlation between MMC and MPMA (r = .867, P < .01). Although MMC and MPMA decreased with increasing nuclear grade and TNM stage, this difference failed to achieve statistical significance. No statistically significant differences in survival were found for MMC or MPMA.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that computerized image analysis can evaluate accurately tumor angiogenesis, but tumor angiogenesis in renal cell carcinoma does not provide significant prognostic information in renal cell carcinoma.
Lee
J S
JS
Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Seonam University, College of Medicine, Namwon, Korea.
Jung
J J
JJ
Kim
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling