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Thymidine kinase-1/CD31 double immunostaining for identifying activated tumor vessels
S Okamura1, T Osaki1, K Nishimura1
1a Laboratory of Pathology, Department of Medical Biophysics , Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences , Kobe , Japan.
Summary
Double immunostaining for thymidine kinase-1 (TK1) and CD31 accurately detects activated tumor vessels in colorectal cancer. This method is superior to Ki67/CD31 staining for assessing angiogenic activity and predicting response to anti-angiogenic therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Vascular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Angiogenesis is critical for tumor growth and progression.
- Reliable methods for assessing tumor angiogenesis in tissue sections are lacking.
- Specific biomarkers for proliferating endothelial cells can quantify angiogenic activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate double immunostaining for thymidine kinase-1 (TK1) and CD31 for identifying activated tumor vessels.
- To compare the efficacy of TK1/CD31 staining with Ki67/CD31 staining in colorectal carcinoma (CRC).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 39 colorectal carcinoma (CRC) samples.
- Double immunostaining for TK1/CD31 and Ki67/CD31.
- Quantification of positive vessel rates (PVRs) in tumor and adjacent normal tissues.
Main Results:
- Mean TK1/CD31 PVR in CRCs was 13.9-fold higher than in normal tissues (23.6% vs. 1.7%).
- Mean Ki67/CD31 PVR in CRCs was 4.8-fold higher than in normal tissues (20.0% vs. 4.2%).
- TK1/CD31 staining showed significantly lower PVR in normal tissues compared to Ki67/CD31 staining.
Conclusions:
- Double immunostaining for TK1/CD31 accurately detects activated tumor vessels in CRC.
- TK1/CD31 staining is more effective than Ki67/CD31 for assessing tumor angiogenesis.
- TK1/CD31 may help identify tumors responsive to anti-angiogenic therapy.
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