Vascular endothelial growth factor expression and neovascularisation in non-small cell lung cancer

Many recent studies have demonstrated that tumour angiogenesis is a potent prognostic factor for various malignant tumours, but this has not been clearly shown in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate the prognostic value of MVD associated with VEGF in patients with NSCLC by comparing the immunohistochemical results obtained for CD34 with those obtained for vWf. Microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were investigated in 108 cases of NSCLC by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between von Willebrand factor (vWf) and CD34 staining for MVD was not strong, and vWf staining did not correlate with VEGF expression, but CD34 staining did. Staining for CD34 significantly correlated with survival in adenocarcinoma, distant metastasis and postoperative recurrence, but staining for vWf did not. CD34 was more sensitive and specific than vWf for staining endothelial cells associated with VEGF expression. It is suggested that research on neovascularisation should be investigated on every histological subtype or should focus on the early stages of NSCLC which are not under the influence of a variety of complications facilitating tumour neovascularisation.