J Korean Med Sci.  2004 Oct;19(5):693-697. 10.3346/jkms.2004.19.5.693.

The Prognostic Effect of VEGF Expression in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix Treated with Radiation Therapy Alone

• Kang JO
• Hong SE

• KMID: 1733511
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2004.19.5.693

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and clinical outcome in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix treated with radiotherapy alone. The immunohistochemical study was performed for fortytwo paraffin embedded specimens with anti-VEGF mouse monoclonal antibody. Staining was defined as positive for VEGF when more than 10% of the tumor cells were stained from 500 cells counted. Positive VEGF expression was observed in twenty-one among forty-two patients. VEGF expression according to stage (p=0.101), lymph node status (p=0.621), parametrial invasion (p=0.268), and age (p=0.5) revealed no significant difference. But the VEGF expression was significantly higher in tumors larger than 4 cm (p=0.031). Five year survival rates according to VEGF expression status were 89% for VEGF negative group and 47% for VEGF positive group (p=0.02). FIGO stage (p=0.007), tumor size (p=0.025) and the duration of external beam radiation therapy (p=0.006) were also significant prognostic factors for overall survival. We suggest that VEGF expression may be a prognotic factor of the cervix cancer patients treated with radiation therapy alone.

Keyword

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; Cervix Neoplasms; Radiotherapy; Prognosis

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*metabolism/mortality/*radiotherapy
Cervix Neoplasms/*metabolism/mortality/*radiotherapy
Female
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Predictive Value of Tests
Prognosis
Regression Analysis
Survival Rate
Tumor Markers, Biological/metabolism
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*metabolism

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Survival curves according to stage. Five year overall survival rate is 89% for stage IB (solid line, n=13), 67% for stage II (dot line, n=23) and 22% for stage III&IV (dashed line, n=6) (p=0.007).

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  Fig. 2 Survival curves according to tumor size. Five year survival rate is 83% for the tumors of less than 4 cm (solid line, n=19) and 53% for the tumors 4 cm or more (dot line, n=23) (p=0.0025).

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  Fig. 3 Survival of the patients grouped according to VEGF: positive (dot line, n=21) and negative (solid line, n=21). Five year overall survival rate of VEGF negative group was 89% and 47% for positive group (p=0.02).

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