Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in pN2 non-small cell lung cancer: lack of prognostic value.
OBJECTIVE
Although several previous studies have investigated the prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in non-small cell lung (NSCL) cancer, no previous study has concentrated on NSCL cancer with pathologically abnormal mediastinal nodes (pN2).


METHODS
A total of 60 patients with pN2 NSCL cancer who had undergone a complete resection with a systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection were reviewed retrospectively. Immunohistochemical examination, using antibodies against VEGF, was conducted. The prognostic significance of VEGF expression and clinicopathological factors were analysed.


RESULTS
The overall 5-year survival rate was 21.7%. With respect to clinicopathological factors, single N2 involvement and skip metastasis were significantly associated with patients' survival. Expression of VEGF was found in 35/60 (58.3%) patients. VEGF expression was not related to the clinicopathological parameters examined. There was no relationship between survival rates and patients positive and negative for VEGF. Multivariate analysis showed that single N2 disease was an independent prognostic factor, while VEGF expression was not.


CONCLUSIONS
Although VEGF expression might be important for tumour development and maintenance, no prognostic significance of VEGF expression in pN2 NSCL cancer was found.
Tomita
Masaki
M
Department of Surgery II, Miyazaki Medical College, Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, Japan. mtomita@post.miyazaki-med.ac.jp
Matsuzaki
Yasunori
Y
Shimizu
Tetsuya
T
Hara
Masaki
M
Ayabe
Takanori
T
Onitsuka
Toshio
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A