DIFFERENT ANGIOGENIC PATHWAYS IN HUMAN CERVICAL CANCERS

Objective. The objective of this study is to clarify the association b etween the expression of two types angiogenic factors, vascular endoth elial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived endothelial cell growt h factor (PD-ECGF)/thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) and clinicopatho logical features, including tumor angiogenesis, in cervical cancers. M ethods. The expression of VEGF and PD-ECGF was evaluated by immunohist ochemical staining of tumor specimens from 73 patients with stage Ib-I Ib cervical cancer (51, squamous cell carcinoma; 19, adenocarcinoma; 3 , adenosquamous carcinoma) who underwent radical hysterectomy. The mic rovessel density was assessed by immunostaining for factor VIII-relate d antigen in the most neovascularized area. Results. The microvessel d ensity in adenocarcinomas was significantly higher than that in squamo us cell carcinomas (P < 0.01), The intensity of VEGF expression in ade nocarcinomas was significantly stronger than that in squamous cell car cinomas CP < 0.05), In contrast, the expression of PD-ECGF in squamous cell carcinomas was significantly higher than that in adenocarcinomas (P < 0.0001) and adenosquamous carcinomas (P < 0.01). There was an in verse relationship between VEGF expression and PD-ECGF expression amon g all patients studied (P < 0.001). The microvessel density was signif icantly correlated with the intensity of VEGF expression (P < 0.05). I n contrast, there was no correlation between the microvessel density a nd the expression of PD-ECGF. Conclusions. The expression of VEGF appe ars to be involved In the promotion of angiogenesis in cervical cancer s. Furthermore, we propose that angiogenic pathways may be different i n different types of cervical cancers. (C) 1998 Academic Press.