Angiogenesis in Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Invasive Cervical Cancer: an Immunohistochemical Study

Kim, Y M; Yeom, B W; Lee, K W

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
It has been suggested that tumor angiogenesis, the formation of new vessels, is associated with tumor growth and metastasis. Microvessel counts and densities are direct measures of tumor-host angiogenic activity. This study was designed to determine whether microvessel counts using immunohistochemical staining could be used as an independent prognostic factor in cervical lesions such as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cervical cancer.
METHODS
Paraffin-embedded sections from 42 surgical specimens [12 invasive cervical cancer, 10 carcinoma in situ, 10 severe dysplasia, 10 chronic cervicitis] were stained immunohistochmically for factor VIII-related antigens. All specimens were obtained from patients who underwent hysterctomies or radical hysterctomies. Microvessel counts in the most active area of angiogenesis was performed by one pathologist on a X200 microscopic field without any information of the patient.
RESULTS
Microvessel counts were 37.6 in chronic cervicitis, 38.8 in severe dysplasia, 40.6 in carcinoma in situ, and 61.0 in invasive cervical cancer. Microvessel counts increased significantly in invasive cervical cancer compared to that of chronic cervicitis [p<.01] and carcinoma in situ [p<.05].
CONCLUSION
Microvessel counts showed an increasing tendency in more advanced cervial lesions. These results suggest the close association of tumor angiogenesis with the progression of cervical cancer and the possible usage of microvessel counts as prognostic factor in cervical cancer.