Correlation of p53 and bcl-2 expression with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), microvessel density (MVD) and clinico-pathological features in colon cancer.
This study was designed to elucidate the possible relationship between tumour related genes and angiogenesis in colon cancer. The protein expression of p53, bcl-2, Von Willebrand factor and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were analysed by immunohistochemistry in 57 paraffin-embedded colon cancer. The results showed that microvessel density (MVD) was lower in VEGF negative tumours than in VEGF positive ones (P<0.0001). MVD and VEGF in p53 negative tumours were significantly lower than in p53 positive tumours (respectively, P=0.003 and P<0.0001). Moreover, positive correlations were recorded between VEGF expression and MVD, and bcl-2 expression (respectively, P<0.0001 and P=0.009). Our data confirm the central role of VEGF in angiogenesis and suggest direct correlations among p53, bcl-2 and VEGF expression in colon cancer.
Perrone
G
G
Service of Histopathology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy. g.perrone@unicampus.it
Vincenzi
B
B
Santini
D
D
Verzì
A
A
Tonini
G
G
Vetrani
A
A
Rabitti
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis*
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A