High vascularity in the peripheral region of non-small cell lung cancer tissue is associated with tumor progression

Objectives: We attempted to determine if the degree of angiogenesis can ser ve as a prognostic factor in the case of completely resected non-small cell lung cancer patients, with special reference to the center and the periphe ry of the tumor tissue. Method: For 255 Japanese patients who underwent com pletely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), micro vessel density ( MVD) was assessed by visual quantification of microvessels immunostained wi th anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody in 5 m section. Vascular endothelial growt h factor (VEGF) was also immunostained on the same paraffin block specimen. Results: MVD at the center (MVD-c) and that at the periphery (MVD-p) were frequently different in each individual although a weak positive correlatio n was observed (r = 0.499, P < 0.0001). One hundred and one patients with h igh MVD-p, but not the 107 patients with high MVD-c, showed a significantly higher proportion of advanced stage, larger tumor size and nodal metastasi s as compared with MVD, The 5 year survival rate and median survival time f or the high MVD-p group were significantly lower than that of low the MVD-p group (43.0%/31 months vs 48.6%/54 months, P = 0.0256). As to the relation ship among vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and MVD, expression of VEGF was not associated with the degree of MVD. However, patients with hig h grade MVD-p showed an unfavorable prognosis in cases of high expression o f VEGF. Conclusion: High MVD-p is associated with advancement of NSCLC, and it was particularly apparent in conjunction with high VEGF expression. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.