Angiogenic co-operation of VEGF and stromal cell TP in endometrial carcinomas.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP) are important angiogenic enzymes, inducing new blood vessel formation in many human malignancies. In this study, the immunohistochemical expression of the two molecules was analysed in a series of 121 endometrial carcinomas....

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Main Authors: Sivridis, E, Giatromanolaki, A, Anastasiadis, P, Georgiou, L, Gatter, K, Harris, A, Bicknell, R, Koukourakis, M
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2002
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author Sivridis, E
Giatromanolaki, A
Anastasiadis, P
Georgiou, L
Gatter, K
Harris, A
Bicknell, R
Koukourakis, M
author_facet Sivridis, E
Giatromanolaki, A
Anastasiadis, P
Georgiou, L
Gatter, K
Harris, A
Bicknell, R
Koukourakis, M
author_sort Sivridis, E
collection OXFORD
description Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP) are important angiogenic enzymes, inducing new blood vessel formation in many human malignancies. In this study, the immunohistochemical expression of the two molecules was analysed in a series of 121 endometrial carcinomas. VEGF was expressed exclusively in cancer cells, while TP expression was shown in cancer cells (TPcc) and in stromal cells (TPsc) of both fibroblastic and myometrial origin. In all cases, enzymatic detection was particularly evident at the invading tumour front. At this site, TPsc, but not VEGF, expression was associated with non-endometrioid-type carcinomas, high tumour grade, deep myometrial invasion, and advanced stage. VEGF, but not TP, expression was related to increased angiogenesis (p=0.01). Double stratification of the two factors, however, marked VEGF/TPsc co-expression as the most potent angiogenic phenotype (p=0.008), suggesting a synergistic function. Survival analysis revealed that VEGF and TPsc, whether expressed alone or in combination, define poor prognosis. In multivariate analysis, however, stage of disease (p<0.0001, t-ratio 4.4) and VEGF expression (p=0.01, t-ratio 2.4) were the most important prognostic variables. Furthermore, VEGF expression emerged as the only independent prognostic variable in stage I endometrial carcinomas (p=0.04, t-ratio 1.9). This was not shown for TP, probably because of its close association with histopathological parameters. In conclusion, VEGF is a major angiogenic factor in endometrial carcinomas and an independent prognostic factor in stage I endometrial disease. TP is not an effective contributor to the angiogenic process, but is associated with aggressive histological features. The two factors, when co-expressed, play a co-operative role in the induction of angiogenesis.
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spelling oxford-uuid:43121da4-76fc-4eb5-bd41-f6c0150b83922022-03-26T14:53:15ZAngiogenic co-operation of VEGF and stromal cell TP in endometrial carcinomas.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:43121da4-76fc-4eb5-bd41-f6c0150b8392EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2002Sivridis, EGiatromanolaki, AAnastasiadis, PGeorgiou, LGatter, KHarris, ABicknell, RKoukourakis, MVascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP) are important angiogenic enzymes, inducing new blood vessel formation in many human malignancies. In this study, the immunohistochemical expression of the two molecules was analysed in a series of 121 endometrial carcinomas. VEGF was expressed exclusively in cancer cells, while TP expression was shown in cancer cells (TPcc) and in stromal cells (TPsc) of both fibroblastic and myometrial origin. In all cases, enzymatic detection was particularly evident at the invading tumour front. At this site, TPsc, but not VEGF, expression was associated with non-endometrioid-type carcinomas, high tumour grade, deep myometrial invasion, and advanced stage. VEGF, but not TP, expression was related to increased angiogenesis (p=0.01). Double stratification of the two factors, however, marked VEGF/TPsc co-expression as the most potent angiogenic phenotype (p=0.008), suggesting a synergistic function. Survival analysis revealed that VEGF and TPsc, whether expressed alone or in combination, define poor prognosis. In multivariate analysis, however, stage of disease (p<0.0001, t-ratio 4.4) and VEGF expression (p=0.01, t-ratio 2.4) were the most important prognostic variables. Furthermore, VEGF expression emerged as the only independent prognostic variable in stage I endometrial carcinomas (p=0.04, t-ratio 1.9). This was not shown for TP, probably because of its close association with histopathological parameters. In conclusion, VEGF is a major angiogenic factor in endometrial carcinomas and an independent prognostic factor in stage I endometrial disease. TP is not an effective contributor to the angiogenic process, but is associated with aggressive histological features. The two factors, when co-expressed, play a co-operative role in the induction of angiogenesis.
spellingShingle Sivridis, E
Giatromanolaki, A
Anastasiadis, P
Georgiou, L
Gatter, K
Harris, A
Bicknell, R
Koukourakis, M
Angiogenic co-operation of VEGF and stromal cell TP in endometrial carcinomas.
title Angiogenic co-operation of VEGF and stromal cell TP in endometrial carcinomas.
title_full Angiogenic co-operation of VEGF and stromal cell TP in endometrial carcinomas.
title_fullStr Angiogenic co-operation of VEGF and stromal cell TP in endometrial carcinomas.
title_full_unstemmed Angiogenic co-operation of VEGF and stromal cell TP in endometrial carcinomas.
title_short Angiogenic co-operation of VEGF and stromal cell TP in endometrial carcinomas.
title_sort angiogenic co operation of vegf and stromal cell tp in endometrial carcinomas
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