Cv. Kirschner et al., ANGIOGENESIS FACTOR IN ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA - A NEW PROGNOSTIC INDICATOR, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 174(6), 1996, pp. 1879-1882
OBJECTIVE: Tumor angiogenesis is believed to be a prognostic indicator
associated with tumor growth and metastasis. Studies of angiogenesis
in breast, prostate, and lung cancer, as well as melanoma, have shown
that neovascularization correlates with the likelihood of metastasis a
nd recurrences. The purpose of this study was to evaluate microvessel
density as a prognostic factor in endometrial cancer. METHODS: Between
1980 and 1998 the tumor registry identified 25 patients with a diagno
sis of recurrent endometrial cancer. These patients were matched with
25 patients with nonrecurrent disease for age, stage, grade, and treat
ment. The histologic slides of the 50 patients were reviewed. The para
ffin blocks were obtained, and the area of the deepest myometrial inva
sion was selected for staining. The microvessels within the invasive c
ancer were highlighted by means of immunocytochemical staining to dete
ct factor VIII-related antigen. Microvessels were counted by two inves
tigators who were blinded to the patients' clinical status. Survival d
ata were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier survival curves. RESULTS: Microves
sel count was related to likelihood of recurrence, although this trend
did not reach statistical significance. Patients with tumors of low c
apillary density had a mean survival time of 123 months. Patients with
tumors of high capillary density had a mean survival time of 75 month
s (p = 0.02). Among patients with recurrent disease, those with a low
capillary count survived a mean of 64 months. Patients with recurrent
disease with tumors of high capillary density survived a mean of 45 mo
nths (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Angiogenesis factor correlates with surv
ival in endometrial carcinoma.