Objectives. To determine the relationship between angiogenesis and var
ious histopathologic features as well as clinical outcome in patients
with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods, Microvessel densit
y was quantified by using immunocytochemical staining of endothelial c
ells for factor VIII-related antigen of 36 specimens taken from patien
ts with pathologic Stage pT1 or pT2 RCC. All patients underwent radica
l nephrectomy and were followed for a mean time of 97.3 months. Result
s. No association was noted between microvessel count (MVC) and either
cell type, architecture, or tumor size. Inverse correlation was noted
between MVC and nuclear area (P = 0.006), nuclear elipticity (P = 0.0
16), nuclear roughness (P = 0.039), and histologic grade (P = 0.047).
Patients having tumors with low MVC had significantly better survival
rate compared with those with high MVC neoplasms (P = 0.0014, by Cox p
roportional hazards method). Conclusions, Despite lack of correlation
with known predictors of survival, MVC provides independent prognostic
information for patients with localized RCC. (C) 1998, Elsevier Scien
ce Inc. All rights reserved.