Vascular endothelial growth factor expression as a prognostic index in serous ovarian cystoadenocarcinomas: relationship with MIB1 immunostaining.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by neoplastic cells in serous ovarian cystoadenocarcinomas; the correlation between this marker of angiogenesis, histopathologic parameters, disease-free survival, and MIB1 immunostaining was also evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-two patients with serous ovarian cystoadenocarcinoma, treated at the Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ancona University (Italy), were used as study population; 10 women with serous cystoadenoma were also analyzed. The expression of VEGF was immunohistochemically evaluated by polyclonal antibody anti-VEGF (Santa Cruz, CA, dilution 1:100) on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue.

RESULTS

Compared to cystoadenomas, the tissutal VEGF immunostaining was significantly higher in cystoadenocarcinomas, with the highest values in architectural grade 3 neoplasms (P < 0. 001). A direct relationship was observed between VEGF immunostaining and MIB1 index (r = 0.44, P = 0.013). A relationship was defined between VEGF expression and disease-free survival, evaluated by Cox hazards analysis (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Angiogenesis, evaluated by VEGF immunostaining, seems to be an interesting prognostic indicator in serous ovarian cystoadenocarcinoma, involved in neoplastic proliferation.