THE EXPRESSION OF PLATELET-DERIVED ENDOTHELIAL-CELL GROWTH-FACTOR IN HUMAN BLADDER-CANCER

Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is an angiog enic factor and in some studies PD-ECGF/dTdRPase expression levels in several kind of cancers were higher than in their surrounding normal t issues. In this study, we evaluated PD-ECGF/dTdRPase expression in bla dder cancer by an immunohistological method and determined whether it correlated with tumor stage, grade and recurrence. PD-ECGF/dTdRPase ex pression was correlated with tumor grade and stage. Furthermore, among the superficial tumors, PD-ECGF/dTdRPase expression was correlated wi th a recurrence-free rate and thus it might be a prognostic factor for the recurrence of superficial bladder cancer. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien ce Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.