RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 TGF-α, c-erbB-2 Expression and Neoangiogenesis in Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 1731
OP 1737
VO 25
IS 3A
A1 HANTSCHMANN, PEER
A1 JESCHKE, UDO
A1 FRIESE, KLAUS
YR 2005
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/3A/1731.abstract
AB Background: TGFα and c-erbB-2 are important mediators of tumor neoangiogenesis linked to the epidermal growth factor receptor. Thus, we analyzed TGFα c-erbB-2 and tumor neoangiogenesis in vulvar carcinoma and determined their prognostic significance. Patients and Methods: Seventy-five carcinomas were evaluated for histological parameters. Tumors were stained immunohistologically for TGFα, c-erbB-2 and factor VIII antigen. Results were analyzed statistically by Ã2-test, Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank-test. Results: Sixty-five % of the carcinomas were positive for TGFα in >50% of the tumor cells. C-erbB-2 overexpression occurred in 47% of the tumors, but there was frequently a high cytoplasmatic staining. Twenty-nine % showed high microvessel densitiy. These tumors were more likely to have vascular space involvement (p=0.02). In carcinomas with TGFα expression in >50% of the tumor cells, microvessel density was increased (p=0.05). Overall and disease-free survival tended to be reduced for tumors with high TGFα expression and microvessel density, but differences were not significant. Conclusion: Tumor neoangiogenesis is an important event in vulvar carcinogenesis which is related to the expression of growth factors.