The association of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 with the risk of cancer progression following radical prostatectomy

Abstract

In the current study, we analysed the prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) in clinically-localized prostate cancer (PCa). Forty patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy (RP) for clinically-localized PCa were included. Two groups were compared: 17 patients who experienced cancer progression following RP (group 1) and 23 patients who remained free of recurrence after intervention (group 2). Paraffin-embedded sections obtained from the RP specimens of the 40 patients were used to build tissue microarrays. The expression of VEGFR-1 was examined in the RP specimens using immunohistochemistry and was compared between the groups of patients. The two groups had similar tumor characteristics in terms of PSA, Gleason score and pathological stage of cancer. The median intensity score of VEGFR-1 expression was significantly higher in pT3 tumors than in pT2 tumors. Nevertheless, the intensity scores of VEGFR-1 expression were similar in the two groups of patients. Our results suggest that VEGFR-1 expression is not associated with the risk of cancer progression following RP. Therefore, VEGFR-1 may not be of prognostic value in clinically-localized PCa.

VEGFR-1 Overexpression Identifies a Small Subgroup of Aggressive Prostate Cancers in Patients Treated by Prostatectomy

“…In cancer cells, VEGFR-1 expression was found in 32.6% of 2669 interpretable prostate cancers, indicating that VEGFR-1 can be activated in a fraction of secretory cells as a consequence of malignant transformation. The frequency of detectable VEGFR-1 staining is substantially lower in our study than in four earlier publications reporting VEGFR-1 expression in 97.5%, 100% and 100% analyzing 40, 15 and 113 prostate cancers and in 100% of 16 pelvic lymph node metastasis [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 25 ]. It is most likely, that these differences are due to the use of different antibodies and staining procedures.…”

“…For our study, we selected the rabbit polyclonal antibody ab2350 raised against the C -terminal polypeptide not present in the soluble form of the VEGFR-1 protein, which does not react with the phosphorylated form of the protein. In contrast, Mao et al [ 22 ] and Woolard et al [ 24 ] used antibodies with a presumable broader binding spectrum, raised against the recombinant VEGFR-1 Ser27-His687 in goats. That varying antibody conditions lead to significant changes in the rate of positive cases was previously shown.…”

“…In several cancer entities, such as renal cell cancer [ 15 ], squamous cell cancer [ 16 , 17 ], non-small cell lung cancer [ 18 ], colon cancer [ 19 ] and breast cancer [ 20 ], VEGFR-1 was shown to be linked to disease outcome. In prostate, differential expression between cancerous and normal epithelium was described [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. In addition, studies on 113, 40, and 79 cancers had suggested a possible link between high VEGFR-1 expression levels and unfavorable tumor phenotype and poor disease outcome [ 21 , 22 , 25 ].…”

“…In prostate, differential expression between cancerous and normal epithelium was described [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. In addition, studies on 113, 40, and 79 cancers had suggested a possible link between high VEGFR-1 expression levels and unfavorable tumor phenotype and poor disease outcome [ 21 , 22 , 25 ]. However, this observation was not confirmed by others analyzing cancers from 15 patients [ 23 ].…”

PSMA, EpCAM, VEGF, and GRPR as imaging targets in locally recurrent prostate cancer after radiotherapy.

“…The expression of VEGF in normal prostate, benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer in relation to tumor grade is inconsistent in the current literature [7,[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]. As for EpCAM, the prognostic value of VEGF expression is controversial [50][51][52][53].…”