Prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor in Stage IB carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression as an independent prognostic factor in Stage IB cervical cancer.


METHODS
A total of 117 patients with Stage IB cervical cancer who had undergone radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection with complete histopathologic examination were included. Eighty-eight (75.2%) patients received postoperative radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. VEGF expression was examined using immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Of 117 patients, 35 (29.9%) showed high-intensity VEGF expression and 69 (59%) had a high score for area of VEGF expression. Strong correlations were found between high VEGF intensity and both deep stromal invasion (p = 0.01) and positive pelvic lymph nodes (p = 0.03). The area of VEGF expression was significantly associated with tumor size (p = 0.02). In a multivariate analysis, high VEGF intensity (p = 0.009) and tumor size (p = 0.01) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival and disease-free survival (p = 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). However, the area of VEGF expression was not a prognostic factor for overall survival or disease-free survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings on the correlation between VEGF expression and prognosis were conflicting. Functional and quantitative tools to assess tumor angiogenesis in addition to the expression of VEGF need to be developed and would be helpful to support the finding that tumor angiogenesis correlates significantly with prognosis in early-stage cervical cancer.
Lee
Ik-Jae
IJ
Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju Christian Hospital, Wonju, South Korea.
Park
Kyung-Ran
KR
Lee
Kang-Kyoo
KK
Song
Ji-Sun
JS
Lee
Kwang-Gil
KG
Lee
Jong-Young
JY
Cha
Dong-Soo
DS
Choi
Hyun-Il
HI
Kim
Dong-Hee
DH
Deung
Young-Kun
YK
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D017211:Treatment Failure; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors