Evaluation of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C role in urothelial carcinomas of the bladder.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) has been associated with angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and regional lymph node metastasis and was reported to have an anti-apoptotic and proliferative role.


METHODS
An immunohistochemical study was applied to 123 specimens of bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) to detect VEGF-C and investigate its clinicopathological and prognostic value. VEGF-C-immunostained BUC specimens (123) were statistically correlated with histological grade and stage, patient overall survival and immuno-expression of Ki-67 and bax proteins.


RESULTS
VEGF-C immunopositivity (27/123 BUCs, 22.0%) was inversely correlated with tumor stage and bax immunoexpression (p = 0.007 and p = 0.032, respectively). VEGF-C-positive BUCs tended to have better prognosis (univariate analysis).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-C might be associated with an anti-apoptotic phenotype. Our controversial results regarding patient survival suggest that the role of VEGF-C in BUC progression and prognosis remains to be clarified.
Mylona
Eleni
E
First Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, "Laikon" University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Magkou
Christina
C
Gorantonakis
George
G
Giannopoulou
Ioanna
I
Nomikos
Alexandros
A
Zarogiannos
Aristides
A
Zervas
Anastasios
A
Nakopoulou
Lydia
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein