TGF-alpha as well as VEGF, PD-ECGF and bFGF contribute to angiogenesis of esophageal squamons cell carcinoma

It has been demonstrated that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with tumor progression as an angiogenic factor in esophageal squ amous cell carcinoma (SCC)s. However, the role of other angiogenic factors such as transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), platelet-derived endo thelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (b FGF) are still unknown in esophageal SCCs. In this study, we detected the e xpression of VEGF, TGF-alpha, PD-ECGF and bFGF in tissue specimens from 96 patients with SCC of the esophagus by immunohistochemical staining. To eval uate angiogenesis, endothelial cells were stained immunohistochemically and microvessel density (MVD) was counted in 24 cases. The positive rates for VEGF, TGF-alpha, PD-ECGF and bFGF were 65% (62/96), 67% (64/96), 66% (63/96 ), and 49% (47/96), respectively. Only TGF-alpha expression had a strong co rrelation with the average MVD (p=0.0059). However, the MVD increased as th e number of positive factors for these 4 factors increased (p=0.0023). The expression of all of these factors significantly correlated to the depth of tumor invasion, and lymph node metastasis. Finally, survival analysis of t he patients revealed that VEGF, TGF-alpha, and PD-ECGF were significant pro gnostic factors. However, multivariate analysis revealed that these factors were not prognostic. Thus, we suggest that TGF-alpha as well as VEGF, PD-E CGF and bFGF may be associated with angiogenesis, and the progression and m etastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.