Cytosol vascular endothelial growth factor in endometrial carcinoma: Correlation with disease-free survival

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether vascular endotheli al growth factor (VEGF) could be a marker for disease-free survival in endo metrial carcinoma patients. Methods. Fifty-three patients with endometrial carcinoma undergoing surgery were enrolled. Clinical and pathologic items were recorded. Cytosol VEGF w as quantified by enzyme immunoassay. The microvessel density (MVD) of the e xcised tumors was immunohistochemically assessed. The relationship among MV D, cytosol VEGF concentration of the tumor tissues, and clinicopathologic p arameters was analyzed. The risk factors influencing clinical outcome were tested. Results. Higher cytosol VEGF concentrations and MVD values were noted in tu mors with advanced stage (more than stage I) (917 versus 125 pg/mg, P = 0.0 3; 94.1 +/- 37.8 versus 60.8 +/- 38.9, P = 0.008), lymphovascular emboli (9 17 versus 102 pg/mg, P = 0.001; 94.4 +/- 33.2 versus 62.4 +/- 40.7, P = 0.0 09), and lymph node metastasis (1032 versus 95 pg/mg, P < 0.001; 116.5 +/- 30.8 versus 56.7 +/- 33.3, P < 0.001). The cytosol VEGF and MVD showed a po sitive linear correlation (VEGF versus MVD, r = 0.41, P = 0.003). Grade 3 t umor and overexpressed cytosol VEGF (>800 pg/mg) are independent risk facto rs for recurrence. There was a trend that patients with grade 1 or 2 tumors and normal-expressed VEGF had the highest probability of disease-free surv ival, and patients with grade 3 tumors and overexpressed cytosol VEGF had t he poorest probability of disease-free survival. Conclusions. Cytosol VEGF had a good correlation with the disease progressi on and metastasis in endometrial carcinoma, and it might also be an indepen dent prognostic factor for disease-free survival of endometrial carcinoma p atients. (C) 2001 Academic Press.