Quantification of angiogenesis in cervical cancer: a comparison among three endothelial cell markers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the quantification of angiogenesis by assessing microvessel density in cervical cancer, comparing the performance of three monoclonal antibodies: anti-CD34 and BNH9, which are still little known markers in cervical neoplasia, and anti-CD31.


METHODS
Fifty-four consecutive patients diagnosed with stages I and II invasive cervical cancer undergoing radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy were evaluated. The monoclonal primary antibodies used were anti-CD34, anti-CD31 and BNH9 antibody. The areas of highest microvessel density were used for counting microvessels in 10 high-power fields. Microvessel density was the mean vessel number counted in 10 high-power fields.


RESULTS
The mean of microvessel density was 10.3, 9.7 and 5.8 for anti-CD34, BNH9 and anti-CD31, respectively. According to the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test, microvessel density estimated by anti-CD34 and BNH9 was significantly higher than the microvessel density estimated by anti-CD31. The difference between microvessel density measured by anti-CD34 and BNH9 was not statistically significant. There was diagnostic agreement in 44 out of 54 cases for anti-CD34 and BNH9 monoclonal antibodies, kappa coefficient being 0.63. The kappa coefficient was 0.41 between anti-CD34 and anti-CD31 and 0.26 between anti-CD31 and BNH9.


CONCLUSIONS
The anti-CD34 and BNH9 seem to have higher sensitivity than anti-CD31. The agreement to quantify microvessel density between anti-CD34 and BNH9 is higher than between them and anti-CD31. Additionally, considering that the BNH9 is much less unknown than anti-CD34 and that they showed very similar performance, the BNH9 clinical significance should be test in different neoplasms.
Vieira
Sabas Carlos
SC
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. sabasmarcia@uol.com.br
Zeferino
Luiz Carlos
LC
Da Silva
Benedito Borges
BB
Aparecida Pinto
Glauce
G
Vassallo
José
J
Carasan
Gislaine Aparecida Fonsechi
GA
De Moraes
Natália Guimarães
NG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1