Angiogenesis and p53 at the invading tumor edge: prognostic markers for colorectal cancer beyond stage.
BACKGROUND
Angiogenesis has emerged as a major prognostic factor in many human malignancies and it is a prospective target for cancer therapy.


METHODS
In this study, we investigated immunohistochemically the angiogenic activity and the expression of p53 and bcl-2 proteins in a series of 170 operable colorectal carcinomas, stage B and C.


RESULTS
A high vascular density at the invading tumor front was directly related to nuclear p53 accumulation, and inversely to cytoplasmic expression of bcl-2. Furthermore, high angiogenic activity was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis. Survival analysis showed that Dukes stage and vascular density were the most important and independent prognostic factors in colorectal cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
It is believed that angiogenesis at the invading tumor edge can be used as an independent prognostic marker to identify subgroups of colorectal cancer patients with an unfavorable post-operative outcome.
Georgiou
Loucas
L
Department of Pathology, Democritus University of Thrace Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Minopoulos
George
G
Lirantzopoulos
Nikos
N
Fiska-Demetriou
Aliki
A
Maltezos
Efstratios
E
Sivridis
Efthimios
E
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53