title: Study of microvessel density and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factors in adrenal gland pheochromocytomas.
abstract: Angiogenesis (neoangiogenesis), a process of neovascularization, is an essential step for local tumor growth and distant metastasis formation. We have analysed angiogenesis status: vascular architecture, microvessel density, and vascular endothelial growth factors expression in 62 adrenal pheochromocytomas: 57 benign and 5 malignant. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed that vascular architecture and vessel density are different in the central and subcapsular areas of the tumor. Furthermore, we have observed a strong correlation between number of macrophages and microvessel density in the central and subcapsular areas of the tumor and between the expression of VEGF-A in tumor cells and microvessel density in central and subcapsular areas of the tumor. Secondary changes in these tumors influence the results and both vascular architecture and microvessel density are markedly disturbed by hemorrhagic and cystic changes in pheochromocytomas. These changes are partially caused by laparoscopic operation technique. However, no differences in vascular parameters were found between pheochromocytomas with benign and malignant clinical behavior. Our observation showed that analysis of angiogenesis, as a single feature, does not help in differentiating malignant and benign pheochromocytomas and has no independent prognostic significance. On the other hand, high microvessel density in pheochromocytoma is a promising factor for antiangiogenic therapy in malignant cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Medical College (UJCM), Grzegórzecka Street 16, 31-531 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Białas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Medical College (UJCM), Grzegórzecka Street 16, 31-531 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dyduch
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH-University of Science and Technology, Aleja Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dudała
authors.affiliation: Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika Street 17, 31-501 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bereza-Buziak
authors.affiliation: Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika Street 17, 31-501 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hubalewska-Dydejczyk
authors.affiliation: II Department of General Surgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, University Hospital, Kopernika 21 Street, 31-501 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Budzyński
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Medical College (UJCM), Grzegórzecka Street 16, 31-531 Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okoń