Significance Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression And Microvessel Density In Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective: Many studies have show that angiogenesis play an important role in the growth progression and metastasis of solid tumors .we investigated the correlation between the expression of VEGF( Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor),tumor micro-vessel density and the progression of NSCLC(Non-small Cell Lung Cancer). Methods: surgical specimens from 82 NSCLC were examined for VEGF expression and (MVD)micro-vessel density by immunohistochemical staining. Original anti-VEGF polyclonal antibody was used to determine VEGF expression and anti-CD34 antibody was used to determine micro-vessel density. Results: The micro- vessel density from 40 patients with distant metastasis after surgical resection (mean ±standard deviation 33±10.58)were significantly higher than 40 patients without distant metastasis after operation within half years (22.02±7.74) (p=0.032). The micro-vessel density from 49 patients with nodal metastasis were (32.57 ±10.68) and 33 patients without nodal metastasis were (25.60±10.15) . There are significanLly difference between them in the statistics (p=0.016) .the VEGF expression levels in NSCLC which have appeared metastasis after operation were significantly higher than those without distant metastasis p=0.014). There was a close correlation between niicro-vessel density and VEGF expression. Conclusions: these findings suggest that the pattern of metastasis in NSCLC is angiogenesis dependent. VEGF may be an important factor responsible for the induction of angigenesis in NSCLC. The expression of VEGF and Micro-vessel density may be a good prognostic indicator for patients with NSCLC.