CD105 expression is an independent predictor of survival in patients with endometrial cancer

The purpose of this study was to detect the prognostic value of CD105 (endoglin) and also to compare with CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with endometrial adenocancer.

Ninety patients with endometrial carcinoma, who were treated at Gazi University Hospital, were included. Staging was performed according to the FIGO recommendations. Angiogenesis was estimated by using CD105 and CD34 and tested for possible significant relation with age, stage, histologic type, grade, depth of myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space invasion, lymph node metastasis, and overall survival (OS). In addition, VEGF staining intensity and distribution were analyzed with respect to all these variables.

The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 57.7 years (range, 28-81 years). The mean microvessel density (MVD) for CD105 was 32.87+/-19.99, and it was 55.46+/-31.25 for CD34 (P<0.001). A significant correlation was noted between these two markers (r=0.257, P=0.02). The mean VEGF score was 4.13+/-1.73, and it was significantly correlated with MV counts determined by CD105 (r=0.291, P=0.006). It was not significantly related with CD34 (r=0.031, P=0.78). With respect to clinicopathological variables, none of the comparisons was found to be significant. The mean follow-up period was 60.5 months. To analyze the prognostic value of MVD, the patients were divided into three groups with respect to quartiles (or=75%). With CD105 staining, the 5-year OS rates for patients with the highest MVD count (>or=75%) were significantly poorer than the remaining two groups (P=0.01 for both). None of the comparisons for CD34 was significant. Survival analysis for VEGF was performed by grouping patients using staining characteristics. No significant difference was noted for OS. Multivariate analysis showed that MVD determined by CD105 correlated significantly and independently with OS (P=0.02). None of the remaining variables was significant in multivariate analysis.

The current study showed that CD105 is an independent predictor of survival in patients with endometrial cancer. We recommend the use of this highly specific and prognosis-related antigen in further investigations.