High vascularity in the peripheral region of non-small cell lung cancer tissue is associated with tumor progression.
OBJECTIVE
We attempted to determine if the degree of angiogenesis can serve as a prognostic factor in the case of completely resected non-small cell lung cancer patients, with special reference to the center and the periphery of the tumor tissue.


METHODS
For 255 Japanese patients who underwent completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), micro vessel density (MVD) was assessed by visual quantification of microvessels immunostained with anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody in 5 m section. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was also immunostained on the same paraffin block specimen.


RESULTS
MVD at the center (MVD-c) and that at the periphery (MVD-p) were frequently different in each individual although a weak positive correlation was observed (r=0.499, P<0.0001). One hundred and one patients with high MVD-p, but not the 107 patients with high MVD-c, showed a significantly higher proportion of advanced stage, larger tumor size and nodal metastasis as compared with MVD. The 5 year survival rate and median survival time for the high MVD-p group were significantly lower than that of low the MVD-p group (43.0%/31 months vs 48.6%/54 months, P=0.0256). As to the relationship among vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and MVD, expression of VEGF was not associated with the degree of MVD. However, patients with high grade MVD-p showed an unfavorable prognosis in cases of high expression of VEGF.


CONCLUSIONS
High MVD-p is associated with advancement of NSCLC, and it was particularly apparent in conjunction with high VEGF expression.
Ushijima
C
C
Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Tsukamoto
S
S
Yamazaki
K
K
Yoshino
I
I
Sugio
K
K
Sugimachi
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors