title: Clinicopathologic study of vascular endothelial growth factor, thrombospondin-1, and microvessel density assessed by CD34 in patients with stage III ovarian carcinoma.
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate angiogenesis in patients with advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma. We used paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 33 patients diagnosed with FIGO III ovarian cancer who had optimal surgery and received platinum-based chemotherapy. The tissue expression of CD34, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) was assessed immunohistochemically. CD34 stained hot spot areas were used to evaluate tumor microvessel density (MVD). VEGF and TSP-1 were assessed by semiquantitative methods. The studied molecules were investigated for relationship with standard clinicopathologic parameters. MVD count was high: median value of 39, range 12-143 microvessels/mm2. VEGF was present in all cases and stained strong in 91%. Stroma staining for TSP-1 was weak in 79% of the cases, strong in 6%, and absent in five (15%). We did not find correlations between the three studied markers and histologic type or tumor grade. MVD score did not relate to VEGF or TSP-1. We only observed a trend toward a longer survival in patients with tumors expressing high TSP-1 (60 vs. 36 months, P= 0.1). Proangiogenetic factor VEGF is highly expressed in advanced-stage ovarian carcinomas. The findings of this study may offer support for considering VEGF-targeted therapeutics in ovarian cancer treatment research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Ioannina University Hospital, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karavasilis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Malamou-Mitsi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Briasoulis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsanou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kitsou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pavlidis
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019700:Thrombospondin 1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D019700:Thrombospondin 1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A