Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and assessment of microvascular density with CD 34 and endoglin in proliferative endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia, and endometrial carcinoma

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD 34, and endoglin expressions as markers of angiogenesis in proliferative endometrium (PE), endometrial hyperplasia (EH), and endometrial carcinoma (EC) and to find the possible impact of angiogenesis on malign transformation. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 12 patients with PE, 23 patients with simple EH and complex EH with atypia, and 31 patients with EC were included. A semiquantitative scoring system was used to assess the intensity and degree of staining of VEGF. Microvessel density (MVD) was assessed with endoglin and anti-CD 34 in most vascular areas. VEGF expression was significantly higher in EC and EH than PE, but there was no difference between EC and EH. According to CD 34 staining, there were no differences in MVD between groups. However, mean MVD counts assessed by endoglin were significantly higher in EC than PE and EH. Although VEGF expression in EC was significantly higher, it did not correlate with other measures of angiogenesis. MVD using endoglin seemed to reflect neoplastic angiogenesis better than CD 34.

Relationship between human tumour angiogenic profile and combretastatin-induced vascular shutdown: an exploratory study

“…The following antigens were analysed using a categorical scale, with the proportion of immunoreactive cells graded as weak, moderate, or strong by direct visual assessment at low ( Â 50) and high ( Â 400) magnification (Table 3). The most appropriate cutoff values were selected from previous studies; VEGF: absent (o5%), weak (5 -25%), moderate (25 -50%), and strong (450%) (Erdem et al 2007); Ang-1/2: cytoplasmic expression predominantly and grading system as for VEGF (Lind et al, 2005); PDGF: highly expressed in stroma; absent (o1% tumour staining), weak (1 -10%), moderate (10 -25%), and strong (425%) (Barnhill et al, 1996). Random results were checked by an experienced immunohistochemist (FD), who had not seen the initial data.…”

Angiogenesis and its modulation in the pathophysiology and treatment of endometrial carcinoma

“…Furthermore, in a study of patients with different endometrial histopathology (12 with normal proliferative endometrium, 23 with simple endometrial hyperplasia, and 31 with endometrial carcinoma), VEGF expression was significantly greater in the hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium compared to the proliferative controls [36]. Interestingly, there were no significant differences in VEGF expression between the hyperplastic and the neoplastic endometrium.…”

Potential Diagnostic Markers in Nodular Lesions of the Thyroid Gland: An Immunohistochemical Study

“…Although CD31 expression in group of follicular carcinomas was higher than in follicular adenomas the diff erence was not statistically signifi cant to allow use of this marker to diff erentiate these tumors. Expression of CD 105 exclusively on newly formed vessels has been described in brain, lung, breast, stomach, endometrium and colorectal cancer 51,53,56,65,68,69 . In relation to the earlier presented expression of CD105 in the above-mentioned tumors, the results of our thyroid study were surprising.…”