[Correlation of vasculogenic mimicry with clinicopathologic features and prognosis of ovarian carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the existence of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in ovarian carcinoma and its correlationship with the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of the tumor.


METHODS
A total of 84 ovarian carcinoma cases were collected with complete clinical and prognostic data. CD31 immunohistochemistry and PAS special stain were used to investigate VM in the tumor tissue. Immunohistochemical staining of VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, E-cadherin, beta-catenin, and Vimentin were used to explore the pathogenesis of VM.


RESULTS
Totally 36 of 84 cases exhibited evidence of VM. FIGO classification, pathologic grades and histological types were significantly different between the VM and non-VM groups. Expression of VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, E-cadherin and beta-catenin were higher in the VM group than in the non-VM group. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that cases of the VM group had a lower survival rate than that of the non-VM group (P = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Vasculogenic mimicry exists in ovarian carcinoma. Ovarian carcinomas with a high grade malignancy have a high incidence of VM formation, a higher incidence of metastases and a lower survival rate. High expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 may contribute to the formation of VM in the ovarian cancer.
Gao
Yan
Y
Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Zhao
Xiu-lan
XL
Gu
Qiang
Q
Wang
Jun-yan
JY
Zhang
Shi-wu
SW
Zhang
Dan-fang
DF
Wang
Xing-hui
XH
Zhao
Nan
N
Gao
Yu-tong
YT
Sun
Bao-cun
BC
D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018282:Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
D015820:Cadherins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051176:beta Catenin; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9