HISTOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF THE VASCULAR SURFACE IN PROSTATIC-CARCINOMA

This study was performed to analyse the correlation between vascular s urface (VS), tumour grade and stage and relative proportion of tumour cells within the tumour stroma. Specimens of 41 prostatic carcinoma we re immunostained using Factor VIII-related antigen. The VS was assesse d by means of stereology. In tumour-free prostatic tissue the VS was 6 .7 +/- 0.4 mm(-1). In pT2 tumours this value was significantly increas ed to about 12 mm(-1). With rising pT stage the VS significantly decre ased to values of 4 in pT4 tumours. In G1 rumours the VS was 14.6 mm(- 1) and significantly decreased with decreasing grade of differentiatio n. No significant difference was obtained between pN0 and pN + cases. A close positive correlation (r = 0.59, P < 0.001) existed between the VS and the relative proportion of tumour cells within the tumour, whe reas a strong negative correlation was found between the VS and the re lative amount of tumour stroma (r = 0.81, P < 0.001). The VS mainly de pends on tumour differentiation and pT stage, i.e. the tumour size and the relative proportion of stroma and tumour cells within the tumour. These results are consistent with those obtained in experimental rumo urs. Assessment of the VS is therefore of interest in studies of tumou r biology; it is of no use in predicting lymph node metastasis.