[Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and nm23 as prognostic factors in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nm23 expression for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).


METHODS
From Jan. 1991 to Dec. 1995, 75 NPC patients treated in Department of Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, with follow-up of more than 4 yrs, were selected to enter this study. Specimens of 75 NPC were studied by immunohistochemical staining for VEGF and nm23. The immunohistochemical data were correlated with development of locoregional failure, distant metastasis and survival.


RESULTS
Positive expression of VEGF and negative expression of nm23 were found in 54.7% and 56% of NPC specimens. Positive expression of VEGF and negative expression of nm23 correlated with the development of distant metastasis (P = 0.0181; P = 0.0091) and shorter survival (P = 0.0136; P = 0.0207). No association was observed with locoregional failure. No association was observed between the expression of VEGF and the expression of nm23.Cox proportional hazard model was used to compare the various factors and found the VEGF and nm23 expression were significant prognostic factors for patients with NPC.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study show that the VEGF and nm23 expression are significant prognostic factors for patients with NPC and indicate that expression of VEGF and nm23 may be useful in identifying patients who may benefit from systemic chemotherapy or other novel treatment strategies.
Zhang
G
G
Department of Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
Zeng
J
J
Gong
L
L
Wu
G
G
Zhou
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D011379:Prognosis; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D011506:Proteins; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; C517938:NME1 protein, human; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase