Vascular endothelial growth factor expression and neovascularisation in non-small cell lung cancer

Many recent studies have demonstrated that tumour angiogenesis is a potent prognostic factor for various malignant tumours, but this has not been clea rly shown in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The purpose of this stu dy was to re-evaluate the prognostic value of MVD associated with VEGF in p atients with NSCLC by comparing the immunohistochemical results obtained fo r CD34 with those obtained for vWf Microvessel density (MVD) and the expres sion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were investigated in 108 cases of NSCLC by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between von Willebr and factor (vWf) and CD34 staining for MVD was not strong, and vWf staining did not correlate with VEGF expression, but CD34 staining did. Staining fo r CD34 significantly correlated with survival in adenocarcinoma, distant me tastasis and postoperative recurrence, but staining for vWf did not. CD34 w as more sensitive and specific than vWf for staining endothelial cells asso ciated with VEGF expression. It is suggested that research on neovascularis ation should be investigated on every histological subtype or should focus on the early stages of NSCLC which are not under the influence of a variety of complications facilitating tumour neovascularisation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.