-Abstract-
Purpose : Angiogenesis is an essential component of tumor growth and metastasis, and vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the important angiogenic factor. To evaluate the
prognostic roles of angiogenesis and VEGF expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer,
the relationships between microvessel counts (MVC), VEGF expressions in tumor tissues,
clinicopathologic features and overall survival were analysed.
Materials and Methods : Thirty-seven patients with curatively resected non-small cell lung cancer
were evaluated. Tumor tissues were stained by anti-CD34 and anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody
using immunohistochemical method to assess MVC and VEGF expression and analysed the
relationship of MVC, VEGF, and clinicopathologic findings.
Resutls : Mean MVC of all tumor tissues was 33.89±24.12 and VEGF were expressed in 26
tissues (70%). There was no correlation between VEGF expression and MVC. Mean MVC was
significantly higher in patients with recurrence than in those without recurrence (50.58±29.33 vs
19.5±11.7, p=0.004). There were no correlation between VEGF expression and clinicopathologic
findings and overall survival. In univariate analysis, MVC (p=0.0431), lymph node involvement
(p=0.0046), histologic type (squamous vs nonsquamous) (p=0.0072) were significant prognostic factors
with respect to overall survival.
Conclusion : In patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent curative resection of
tumors, VEGF expression in tumor tissue was not correlated with MVC and survival. But MVC
correlated with tumor recurrence and survival, thus MVC may be used as one of prognostic factors
in non-small cell lung cancer.
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