EXPRESSION OF CELL-ASSOCIATED ISOFORM OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR-189 AND ITS PROGNOSTIC RELEVANCE IN NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has four isoforms (VEGF121, VEGF165, VEGF189, VEGF206). We examined the expression patterns of VEG F isoforms in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by RT-PCR. The cell-as sociated isoform VEGF189 was more frequently expressed in NSCLC (90.5% ) than in extraneoplastic lung tissue (57.6%, p=0.00004). Immunohistoc hemical examination confirmed VEGF protein expression in 33 of 76 NSCL C expressing VEGF189 (V189p(+) group). The V189p(+) group showed signi ficantly poorer prognosis than those without VEGF189 mRNA and protein (V189p(-) group, p=0.01722). These results suggest that expression of the cell-associated isoform VEGF189 is closely associated with progres sion of NSCLC.