title: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor expression correlates with histologic grade and stage of colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the seventh-most common malignancy and is the main cause of death in Iraq. The incidence of this cancer has increased sharply after the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in CRC in relation to other parameters, such as grade and stage of tumour.
  
  
  METHODS
  Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks from 52 patients (27 male and 25 female) with CRC were included in this study. A group of 22 patients with non-cancerous colonic tissues were included as a control group. Avidin-biotin complex method was employed for immunohistochemical detection of VEGF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF immuno-expression was positive in 51.9% of CRC, while it was 18.2% in the normal colonic tissue (p <0.05). VEGF immunostaining was positively correlated with grade of colonic malignancy (p <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide further evidence for the role of VEGF in the carcinogenesis of CRC. However, VEGF could not be well correlated with stage of tumour and hence may be a poor prognostic parameter of state of malignancy of colonic carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq.
authors.forename: Ali F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.forename: As'ad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Janabi
authors.forename: Liwaa H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Mahdi
authors.forename: Kaswer M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Al-Toriahi
authors.forename: Akeel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Yasseen