Histochemical study of vascular endothelial growth factor in squamous cellcarcinoma of the esophagus

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to clarify the significan ce of VEGF expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODOLOGY: Tissues samples were taken from 52 patients with esophageal SC C after surgery. VEGF expression in these SCCs was examined immunohistochem ically. Microvessels in the tumor stained for Factor VIII-related antigen w ere counted. Ki-67 antigen asa proliferative marker was immunostained with MIB-1, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine trip hosphate biotin nick end labeling was performed for the evaluation of apopt osis. Ki-67 labeling index (LI) and apoptotic index were then calculated. RESULTS: VEGF expression was observed in 30 of the patients (57.7%). The mi crovessel count was significantly higher (p=0.007), and the apoptotic index was significantly lower (p<0.0001) in the SCC with VEGF expression than in the SCC without it, but no significant difference was observed in the Ki-6 7 LI be tween these groups. There was an inverse correlation between the mi crovessel count and the apoptotic index (p=0.007). In the clinicopathologic factors, histologic venous invasion of cancer cells (p=0.039) and lymph no de metastasis (p=0.049) were significantly correlated with VEGF expression. The survival rate after curative surgery was better in the patients withou t VEGF expression(p<0.05), and distant organ metastasis after surgery was f requently observed in the patients with VEGF expression (p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that VEGF expression is associated with angiogenesis in esophageal SCC, and may be a prognostic factor in patients with esophageal SCC. Furthermore, apoptosis may be influenced by angiogenes is in esophageal SCC.