Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor expression correlates with histologic grade and stage of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the seventh-most common malignancy and is the main cause of death in Iraq. The incidence of this cancer has increased sharply after the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

AIM

To estimate immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in CRC in relation to other parameters, such as grade and stage of tumour.

METHODS

Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks from 52 patients (27 male and 25 female) with CRC were included in this study. A group of 22 patients with non-cancerous colonic tissues were included as a control group. Avidin-biotin complex method was employed for immunohistochemical detection of VEGF.

RESULTS

VEGF immuno-expression was positive in 51.9% of CRC, while it was 18.2% in the normal colonic tissue (p <0.05). VEGF immunostaining was positively correlated with grade of colonic malignancy (p <0.05).

CONCLUSION

These findings provide further evidence for the role of VEGF in the carcinogenesis of CRC. However, VEGF could not be well correlated with stage of tumour and hence may be a poor prognostic parameter of state of malignancy of colonic carcinoma.