title: Evaluation of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C role in urothelial carcinomas of the bladder.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, "Laikon" University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mylona
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magkou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorantonakis
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Giannopoulou
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nomikos
authors.forename: Aristides
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarogiannos
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zervas
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nakopoulou
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein