Clinical and Histopathological Parameters Correlate with Microvessel Density but Not with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression in Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Ovarian cancer malignancies have the worst prognosis among all gynecological malignancies. As angiogenesis represents a key step for tumor progression, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most discussed pro-angiogenic factors. VEGF expression was investigated in 62 cases of ovarian carcinomas. Microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated by correlating the results with clinical and histopathological parameters. Because of the controversial results reported in other studies, VEGF was assessed together with MVD. Our results suggest a more complex angiogenic mechanism in ovarian cancer based on the discrepancies between VEGF expression, microvessel density and their correlation with clinical parameters. The conflicting data arising from this study supports the implications of different growth factors, others than VEGF in ovarian cancer. This hypothesis is sustained by the lack of correlation between VEGF and clinical parameters, and by the significant correlation between microvessel density and clinicopathological parameters. Thus, further studies are needed for a complete evaluation of angiogenesis in ovarian cancer.

The Concept of Debulking in Ovarian Cancer

“…In the current speciality literature, it is mentioned that the primary most important prognosis factor is the type of surgery, more exactly: as the first surgery is more radical (residual tumoral after surgery macroscopically absent) as the chance of survival is better. [19][20][21][22].…”

Preserving Fertility in Ovarian Cancer

“…Young women, who were operated conservatively for ovarian tumors well differentiated in stage IA, should also be informed about the recommendation of performing total hysterectomy with contralateral anexectomy, after the age of 35 years or earlier if preservation of fertility is no longer a goal [20][21][22][23].…”

Screening in Ovarian Neoplasm

“…Given that some patients are unfortunately evaluated, either by dosing CA125 or by transvaginal ultrasound, it was found that patients who underwent ultrasound examination had suspected ovarian neoplasm had a much worse prognosis than those who had suspected disease based strictly on a modified CA125 [17][18][19][20][21][22].…”