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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
A Simple Bioassay for the Evaluation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
Published on: March 15, 2016
Vascular endothelial growth factor A and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 expression in non-small cell
Barbara Bonnesen1, Helle Pappot, Julie Holmstav
1Department of Pathology, Herlev University Hospital, Division Gentofte, Niels Andersens vej 65, 2900 Copenhagen (Hellerup), Denmark.
Background:
The majority of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are diagnosed with advanced inoperable disease. While treatment with conventional chemotherapy has improved during the last decade the 5 years survival is still modest. Novel drugs, which selectively target aberrant elements in neoplastic cells and their microenvironment have recently been and are continuously developed including drugs inhibiting the angiogenic system. Angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) seem to play key roles in tumour-induced angiogenesis. Previous studies have been inconclusive on the topic of a role for VEGF and its receptor as prognostic factors in NSCLC.
Methods:
Paraffin-embedded histological material from 102 patients operated for NSCLC was included and a representative block with lung cancer tissue was selected from each patient for immunohistochemical studies. The sections were incubated with primary monoclonal antibodies to VEGF-A and VEGFR2. The expression of the immunohistochemical staining was assessed semi-quantitatively by estimating the percentage and the intensity of tumour cells stained on whole tumour slides. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated to evaluate the significance of immunohistochemical VEGF-A and VEGFR2 expression for the prognosis.
Results:
VEGF-A and VEGFR2 expression was observed in the majority of NSCLC patients. VEGF-A expression showed a correlation to histological type with increased expression in adenocarcinomas as compared to squamous cell carcinomas. There was no statistically significant correlation between VEGF-A and VEGFR2 expression and age, gender or stage at diagnosis. Finally there was no relation between expression of VEGF-A and VEGFR2, nor an effect of high expression of both VEGF-A and VEGFR2 on survival.
Conclusion:
In conclusion VEGF-A and VEGFR2 are expressed in NSCLC, but the immunohistochemical expression of VEGF-A and VEGFR2 has no prognostic impact in NSCLC. We show that the histological subgroups of NSCLC express VEGF-A differently, with adenocarcinomas having the highest amount. Whether these markers might be useful as clinically reliable predictive markers remains to be solved.
Insights
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A (VEGF-A) and its receptor (VEGFR2) are present in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but do not predict patient survival. Adenocarcinomas show higher VEGF-A expression than squamous cell carcinomas.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often presents as advanced, inoperable disease with modest survival rates despite chemotherapy.
- Targeted therapies, including those inhibiting angiogenesis, are under development.
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF-A) and its receptor (VEGFR2) are key in tumor angiogenesis, but their prognostic role in NSCLC is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prognostic significance of VEGF-A and VEGFR2 expression in NSCLC.
- To correlate VEGF-A and VEGFR2 expression with clinicopathological features and patient survival.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of VEGF-A and VEGFR2 expression in tumor tissues from 102 NSCLC patients.
- Semi-quantitative assessment of staining intensity and percentage of tumor cells.
- Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to evaluate prognostic impact.
Main Results:
- VEGF-A and VEGFR2 expression was detected in most NSCLC patients.
- VEGF-A expression correlated with histological type, being higher in adenocarcinomas than squamous cell carcinomas.
- No significant correlation was found between VEGF-A/VEGFR2 expression and age, gender, stage, or patient survival.
Conclusions:
- Immunohistochemical expression of VEGF-A and VEGFR2 does not appear to have prognostic value in NSCLC.
- Different NSCLC histological subtypes exhibit varying levels of VEGF-A expression.
- The potential of VEGF-A and VEGFR2 as predictive markers requires further investigation.
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