Prognostic and predictive value of intratumoral microvessels density in operable non-small-cell lung cancer

Experimental evidence suggests that tumor growth and progression depend on angiogenesis. In a retrospective study we evaluated the relationship betwee n tumor angiogenesis and survival in patients with NSCLC treated with poten tially curative surgery between 1992 and 1997. The study population consist ed of 76 patients. An anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody was used to measure ang iogenesis in tumor samples. Angiogenesis was quantified in terms of microve ssel count (MVC): in each sample the three most intense regions of neovascu larization were identified under low microscopic power. A x 250 field in ea ch of the three areas was then counted and the highest count of the three f ields was recorded. Disease free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) during fol low up were evaluated. Gender, age, stage, histologic type and KI-67 were t he other factors considered for analysis. The median MVC in our series was 41.5. Among the clinicopathologic parameters examined the microvessel count was the only one to show a significant association with disease free survi val in univariate analysis (P = 0.04). MVC value is a new indicator of tumo r aggressiveness in patients with NSCLC who underwent potentially curative surgery and should be taken into consideration in selecting patients for ad juvant treatment. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserve d.