ANGIOGENESIS FACTOR IN ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA - A NEW PROGNOSTIC INDICATOR

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.