Angiogenesis does not correlate with prognosis or expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in synovial sarcomas

To investigate the significance of tumour angiogenesis in synovial sarcoma on prognosis, we analysed the correlation between micro-vessel density (MVD ) and various clinicopathological factors or immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 54 primary and recurrent s ynovial sarcomas. MVD in synovial sarcomas did not correlate with prognosis or VEGF expression. Furthermore, VEGF expression in synovial sarcomas did not have any prognostic value on overall survival. Our results indicate tha t angiogenesis does not play an important role in metastasis of synovial sa rcoma and overall survival. Angiogenesis in synovial sarcoma may be control led by angiogenesis activators other than VEGF.