The significance of VEGF-C/VEGFR-2 interaction in the neovascularization and prognosis of nephroblastoma (Wilms' tumour).
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGFR-2 in nephroblastoma tissue and correlate their presence with the survival rate of children diagnosed with stage III Wilms' tumour.


RESULTS
The material included nephroblastoma tissue obtained from 25 children hospitalized in the Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Transplantology between 1997 and 2003. VEGF-C and VEGFR-2 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical assay. VEGF-C was expressed in all cells of the blastemal component and in 30% of tumour cells in the stromal part. It was absent from epithelial elements. VEGFR-2 expression was spread over the surface of numerous stromal cells as well as all the epithelial cells forming dysplastic tubules. The blastemal component of Wilms' tumour was VEGFR-2-negative. VEGF-C-immunopositive stromal cells were situated in the closest proximity to VEGF-C-immunonegative but VEGFR-2-immunoreactive tubules. VEGF-C expression was of prognostic value for both clinical progression (P = 0.0005) and tumour-related death (P = 0.0365).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-C expression in Wilms' tumour constitutes a potent unfavourable risk factor and may direct future antiangiogenic treatment strategies. The proximity of VEGF-C and VEGFR-2 in the stromal and epithelial components of nephroblastoma could be the neoplastic equivalent of the binary VEGF-C function observed in epithelial and endothelial morphogenesis.
Nowicki
M
M
Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Transplantology, Poznañ University of Medical Sciences, Poznañ, Poland. mnowicki@amp.edu.pl
Ostalska-Nowicka
D
D
Kaczmarek
M
M
Miskowiak
B
B
Witt
M
M
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2