title: VEGF and its receptors (flt-1 and KDR/flk-1) as prognostic indicators in endometrial carcinoma.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with increased angiogenesis and aggressive tumour growth. We investigated the expression and clinical significance of VEGF and its receptors, flt-1 and KDR/flk-1, in patients with uterine endometrial carcinoma. The series consisted of 115 endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma patients with FIGO stage I-IV. Additionally, samples from 3 patients with adenoacanthoma and 12 patients with poor prognostic variants of endometrial carcinoma were examined. Immunohistochemical assessment was classified as negative or positive based on staining intensity. The median follow-up time of patients with endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma was 87 months. In endometrioid endometrial carcinomas, the positive immunostaining rate was 39% for VEGF, 65% for flt-1 and 68% for KDR/flk-1. There was a significant correlation between VEGF and both its receptors. Furthermore, this receptor expression was correlated between the two types of receptors. VEGF-, flt-1- and KDR/flk-1-positive immunostainings were not related to poor prognosis. We conclude that VEGF, flt-1 and KDR/flk-1 expressions are not useful prognostic markers for overall survival in patients with endometrioid endometrial carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talvensaari-Mattila
authors.forename: Ylermi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Soini
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santala
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2