Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its mRNA in uterine cervical cancers

To know the potential of growth, invasion and metastasis of uterine cervica l cancer associated with neovascularization, localization of Vascular endot helial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density in tumours were determi ned by immunohistochemical staining, the levels of VEGF subtypes were deter mined by Western blot analysis and by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay, and th e levels of VEGF subtype mRNAs were determined by reverse transcription pol ymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-Southern blot analysis in uterine cervical cancers. The relation between VEGF subtype expressions and microvessel dens ity, histological types and clinical stages of uterine cervical cancers was analysed. The expression of VEGF was seen dominantly in the cancer cells, and correlated with microvessel density in uterine cervical cancers. Among the four subtypes of VEGF, the populations of VEGF(165) and VEGF(121) were dominant in normal uterine cervices and uterine cervical cancers. The level s of VEGF and VEGF(165) and VEGF(121) mRNAs were remarkably higher in some stage II and III/IV adenocarcinomas of the cervix than in other cases, incl uding normal cervices. Therefore, the elevation of VEGF(165) and VEGF(121) might contribute to the relatively late advancing via angiogenic activity i n some adenocarcinomas of the cervix.