Histological determinants of the vascular surface in prostatic carcinoma

This study was performed to analyse the correlation between vascular surface (VS), tumour grade and stage and relative proportion of tumour cells within the tumour stroma. Specimens of 41 prostatic carcinoma were immunostained using Factor VIII-related antigen. The VS was assessed by means of stereology. In tumour-free prostatic tissue the VS was 6.7 +/- 0.4 mm-1. In pT2 tumours this value was significantly increased to about 12 mm-1. With rising pT stage the VS significantly decreased to values of 4 in pT4 tumours. In G1 tumours the VS was 14.6 mm-1 and significantly decreased with decreasing grade of differentiation. No significant difference was obtained between pN0 and pN+ cases. A close positive correlation (r = 0.59, P < 0.001) existed between the VS and the relative proportion of tumour cells within the tumour, whereas a strong negative correlation was found between the VS and the relative amount of tumour stroma (r = 0.81, P < 0.001). The VS mainly depends on tumour differentiation and pT stage, i.e. the tumour size and the relative proportion of stroma and tumour cells within the tumour. These results are consistent with those obtained in experimental tumours. Assessment of the VS is therefore of interest in studies of tumour biology; it is of no use in predicting lymph node metastasis.