Quantification of angiogenesis by a computerized image analysis system in renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain whether tumor angiogenesis quantitated by a computerized image analysis system correlates with clinical outcome in renal cell carcinoma.

STUDY DESIGN

Microvessels were immunohistochemically labeled with antibodies to CD34 in sections from 62 cases of renal cell carcinoma. Computerized image analysis was used to evaluate the mean microvessel count (MMC) and mean percentage microvessel area (MPMA).

RESULTS

MMC ranged from 19.3 to 315.0, while MPMA was 0.6-17.9%. There was a highly significant correlation between MMC and MPMA (r = .867, P < .01). Although MMC and MPMA decreased with increasing nuclear grade and TNM stage, this difference failed to achieve statistical significance. No statistically significant differences in survival were found for MMC or MPMA.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that computerized image analysis can evaluate accurately tumor angiogenesis, but tumor angiogenesis in renal cell carcinoma does not provide significant prognostic information in renal cell carcinoma.