Pd-ECGF positivity correlates with better survival, while iNOS has no predictive value for cervical carcinomas treated with radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), which has angiogenic activity, is identical to thymidine phosphorylase. Tumor vascularization is considered to be an important prognostic factor. Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) are a kind of enzyme that generates nitric oxide. Nitric oxide has not only a self defense against neoplastic cells but also tumor growth stimulation by promoting new blood vessel formation. Our purpose was to investigate the correlation between the expression of PD-ECGF or inducible NOS (iNOS) in cancer cells and prognosis.


METHODS
Formaldehyde-fixed and paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens excised from 71 cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients who were treated with radiotherapy alone were investigated using an immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
Cancer cells that were positive for PD-ECGF showed intranuclear and cytoplasmic staining patterns. Of the 71 patients, 40 (56%) were positive for PD-ECGF and 31 (44%) were negative. The 5-year survival of the PD-ECGF-positive patients was significantly better than that of the PD-ECGF-negative patients (p = 0.026). Cancer cells that were positive for iNOS showed a cytoplasmic staining pattern. Twenty-seven patients (38%) were positive for iNOS and 44 (62%) were negative. No significant prognostic correlation was observed between iNOS-positive and iNOS-negative patients.


CONCLUSIONS
PD-ECGF positivity in cancer cells is a predictive factor for a good prognosis in cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiotherapy alone.
Oka
Kuniyuki
K
Department of Pathology, Mito Saiseikai General Hospital, Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. oka-k@gb3.so-net.ne.jp
Suzuki
Yoshiyuki
Y
Iida
Hiroko
H
Nakano
Takashi
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase