J Korean Surg Soc.  2004 Jul;67(1):13-17.

Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

• Hwang SE
• Chang YG
• Hong SW
• Paik IW
• Lee H

Abstract

PURPOSE
Papillary thyroid carcinomas are hypervascular tumors. The tumor growth and their metastases are dependent on factors that stimulate vessel formation (angiogenesis). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been reported to play an important role in the angiogenesis in papillary thyroid carcinomas in terms of the clinicopathological prognostic factors. METHODS: The expression of VEGF in specimens surgically removed from 23 papillary thyroid cancer patients were examined by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: The rate of VEGF expression was 56.5% in the tumor cells. The degree of VEGF expression was significantly correlated with local lymph node metastases (P=0.029) and the tumor extent (P=0.036). However, the degree of VEGF expression did not correlate with any clinicopathological characteristics. CONCLUSION: VEGF expression can be a useful prognostic factor of papillary thyroid carcinomas.

Keyword

Papillary thyroid cancer; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Prognostic factor

MeSH Terms

Humans
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroid Neoplasms*
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A