[Expression of VEGF in prostate cancer and its correlation with ET-1].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expressions of VEGF in prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), their clinical significance and their relationship with that of ET-1.


METHODS
A total of 44 specimens of PCa and 36 of BPH tissues were examined by the immunohistochemical Elivision plus method for the expressions of VEGF and ET-1. The intensity of staining for VEGF and ET-1 was assessed by light microscopy on a scale from "-" to "+ + +".


RESULTS
The rates of positive expression of VEGF were 69.4% in BPH and 80.9% in PCa, positive staining mostly in the cytoplasm of glandular epithelia and cancer cells, and strongly positive in all the stroma vascular endothelial cells. The staining intensity of VEGF was significantly higher in the PCa than in the BPH group (P < 0.05) , in the bone metastasis (BM) than in the non-BM group (P < 0.01), and in the lowly than in the highly and moderately differentiated PCa tissues (P < 0.01). The expression of VEGF was positively correlated with that of ET-1 ( r(s) = 0.780, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF is involved in the development, progression and metastasis of PCa. VEGF and ET-1 may play a joint role in its development and progression.
Zhou
Wen-Quan
WQ
Department of Urology, Nanjing University School of Medicine/Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Region, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, China.
Yin
Hong-Lin
HL
Zhang
Zheng-Yu
ZY
Yi
Xiao-Ming
XM
Ge
Jing-Ping
JP
Zhou
Shui-Gen
SG
Cheng
Wen
W
Wei
Wu
W
Ma
Hong-Qing
HQ
Ma
Heng-Hui
HH
Gao
Jian-Ping
JP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D019332:Endothelin-1; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1