Prognostic significance of angiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer.

Ko, Hyeck Jae; Park, Jeong Hyun; Kuk, Hiang; Yang, Sei Hoon; Jeong, Eun Taik

doi:2000.48.5.757

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 48(5); 2000 > Article

Original Article

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2000;48(5):757-765.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2000.48.5.757 Published online May 1, 2000.

Prognostic significance of angiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer.

Hyeck Jae Ko, Jeong Hyun Park, Hiang Kuk, Sei Hoon Yang, Eun Taik Jeong

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Angiogenesis plays a critical role in human tumor growth and metastasis. Microvessel count, as a measure of tumor angiogenesis, has been significantly correlated with invasive and metastatic patterns in breast, prostate and cutaneous carcinomas. Materials and METHODS: Fifty patients with curatively resected non-small cell lung cancer were evaluated. Tumor tissues embedded in paraffin block were stained by anti CD 31 (PECAM, platelet endothelial cellular adhesion molecule) using immunohistochemical method to assess microvessel count. Microvessels were counted in the most active areas of neovascularization(microscopy, 200×). RESULTS: 1) Mean microvessel count was 47.1 ± 17.7(per 200×field) in total 50 cases. 2) Mean microvessel count of adenocarcinoma (54.4±19.9) was significantly higher than that of squamous cancer(43.9±16.2)(p<0.05), but there were no relationship between microvessel count and TNM stages. 3) Median survival time, 2-year and 5-year survival rates of the low microvascular group(microvessel count<45, 22cases) were 61 months, 80% and 40%, respectively, and those of the high microvascular group(microvessel count ≥ 45, 28 cases) were 46 months, 75% and 12%, respectively. As results, prognosis of low microvascular group is statistically significantly superior to that of the high microvascular group(p=0.0162, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank). CONCLUSION: Angiogenesis assessed by microvessel count can be used as one of the significant prognostic factors in non-small cell lung cancer.

Key Words: Non-small cell lung cancer, Angiogenesis, Prognosis