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Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor, KDR, correlates with vascularity, metastasis, and proliferation of human colon cancer.
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1995
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ImmunologyPathologyCancer BiologyTumor BiologyInflammationAngiogenesisOncologyFibroblast Growth FactorRadiation OncologyCancer ResearchHealth SciencesVessel CountsColorectal CancerVegf ExpressionVascular BiologyVascular Endothelial Growth FactorTumor MicroenvironmentHuman Colon CancerColon CancerMedicineCancer Growth
The study examined how VEGF, bFGF, and their receptors correlate with vascularity, metastasis, and proliferation in human colon cancers. Immunohistochemistry on 52 colon carcinomas and 10 adenomas quantified VEGF, bFGF, receptor expression, vessel density, and proliferation using specific antibodies and light microscopy. Higher VEGF and KDR expression in metastatic tumors correlated with increased neovascularization and proliferation, supporting VEGF as a key angiogenic factor and suggesting its potential as a predictive marker for metastasis in colon cancer.
We studied the correlation between expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and their receptors with vascularity, metastasis, and proliferative index of human colon cancers. Immunohistochemical analyses using antibodies against VEGF, bFGF, their receptors (KDR, flt-1, bek, and flg), factor VIII, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen were carried out on archival specimens of 52 human colon carcinomas and 10 adenomas. Vessels were quantitated by light microscopy (x200), and the intensity of staining for VEGF and bFGF was assessed on a scale of 0-3+. The presence or absence of immunostaining for KDR, flt-1, bek, and flg was evaluated in endothelial cells, and proliferation was determined by counting the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells per 500 tumor cells. Expression of VEGF and KDR was higher in metastatic than in nonmetastatic neoplasms and directly correlated with the extent of neovascularization and the degree of proliferation, whereas expression of bFGF, flt-1, bek, and flg did not differ among tumor types. Vessel counts were greater in metastatic tumors than in nonmetastatic tumors. These findings support the hypothesis that VEGF is an important angiogenic factor in primary and metastatic human colon cancer. VEGF expression and vessel counts may aid in predicting patients at risk for metastasis from colon cancer.