Clinical implications of PTEN and VEGF expression status, as well as microvessel density in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

There are limitations to the use of single biomarker levels, for example phosphate and tensin homology (PTEN) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in the diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The present study therefore aimed to evaluate the clinical implications of combined detection of multiple biomarkers. The associations between PTEN and VEGF expression status, microvessel density (MVD), and the pathological characteristics of 50 patients with ESCC were determined using χ², analysis of variance, and t-tests. The results indicated that the PTEN-positive rate was negatively correlated with ESCC histological grade (P<0.01), depth of ESCC invasion (P<0.01) and lymph node metastasis status. Furthermore, the VEGF-positive rate was correlated with lymph node metastasis status, while MVD was correlated with the depth of ESCC invasion (P<0.01) and lymph node metastasis status (P<0.05). The PTEN-positive rate was negatively correlated with the VEGF-positive rate. A higher MVD was identified in ESCC samples than that of the normal esophageal mucosa, particularly in VEGF-positive ESCC specimens compared with those of VEGF-negative specimens, and PTEN-negative ESCC specimens compared with that of the PTEN-positive ESCC specimens. These results suggested that combined detection of PTEN and VEGF levels, as well as evaluation of MVD in patients with ESCC may provide essential information for improvements in the diagnosis and prognosis of ESCC.