Angiogenesis, cell proliferation and apoptosis in progression of cervical neoplasia

To investigate changes in angiogenesis, cell proliferation and apoptosis in the successive steps of cervical neoplasia and to analyze their interrelationship.

A total of 182 cervical specimens, representing 12 normal epithelium, 33 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 21 CIN 2, 30 CIN 3 and 86 squamous cell carcinomas, were evaluated. The microvessels were immunohistochemically labeled with CD34 antibodies. Computerized image analysis was used to evaluate microvessel density (MVD). The apoptotic cells were visualized by a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling technique and proliferative cells by staining with Ki-67 antibodies.

One-way analysis of variance showed that the MVD, Ki-67 labeling index and apoptotic index increased significantly with the progression of cervical neoplasia from normal epithelium, through CIN, to carcinoma (P <.001 for each index). All the indices, determined in all 182 cervical tissues, were significantly and positively associated with each other (P < .001 in all cases), with correlation coefficients ranging from .649 to .819. MVD in patients with recurrence or death was significantly higher than in disease-free patients (P < .05).

The results suggest that tumor progression in the cervical epithelium is accompanied by angiogenesis and an increase in both cell proliferation and apoptosis. Angiogenesis may be a prognostic indicator in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.