Immunohistochemical localization of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression and its relation to angiogenesis in prostate.

OBJECTIVES

Tumor angiogenesis has been reported as a predictor for prognosis in patients with prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the localization of one angiogenic factor, platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), in benign and malignant prostatic tissues and the correlation between PD-ECGF expression and microvessel density (MVD) in prostate cancer.

METHODS

Forty cases of prostate cancer, 3 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and 5 young autopsy cases without prostatic disease were processed with immunohistochemistry, using an anti-PD-ECGF antibody and anti-factor VIII-related antigen antibody. The PD-ECGF expression intensity and MVD were evaluated in each case.

RESULTS

In the 40 cases with prostate cancer, the expression of PD-ECGF was noted in the stromal cells within cancer tissues in 80% of cases. Additionally, noncancerous glands next to cancer lesions were positive for PD-ECGF in 85% of cases. However, cancer cells were negative for PD-ECGF in all cases. In the 8 cases without cancer, both the prostatic glands and their surrounding stroma were positive for PD-ECGF only when they were accompanied by inflammation. There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.636, P <0.001) between the intensity of PD-ECGF expression and MVD. MVD was significantly different when comparing the intensity of PD-ECGF expression of grade 0 versus grade 1 (P <0.05), grade 1 versus grade 2 (P <0.05), and grade 0 versus grade 2 (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that PD-ECGF expression in the stromal cells within cancer tissues might play an important role in tumor angiogenesis in prostate cancer.