J Korean Med Sci.  2001 Aug;16(4):417-423. 10.3346/jkms.2001.16.4.417.

The Relationship between Microvessel Count and the Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, p53, and K-ras in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Kang YH
• Kim KS
• Yu YK
• Lim SC
• Kim YC
• Park KO

• KMID: 648299
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2001.16.4.417

Abstract

Using immunohistochemical staining, we studied the relationship between the microvessel count (MC) and the expression of K-ras, mutant p53 protein, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 61 surgically resected non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) (42 squamous cell carcinoma, 14 adenocarcinoma, 2 large cell carcinoma, 2 adenosquamous carcinoma, and 1 mucoepidermoid carcinoma). MC of the tumors with lymph node (LN) metastasis was significantly higher than that of tumors without LN metastasis (66.1+/-23.1 vs. 33.8+/-13.1, p<0.05). VEGF was positive in 54 patients (88.5%). MC was 58.1+/-25.2 (mean+/-S.D.) in a x200 field, and it was significantly higher in VEGF(+) tumors than in VEGF(-) tumors (61.4+/-23.7 vs. 32.9+/-23.8, p<0.05). VEGF expression was higher in K-ras-positive or mutant p53-positive tumors than in negative tumors (p<0.05). MC was significantly higher in K-ras(+) tumors than in K-ras(-) tumors, although it did not differ according to the level of mutant p53 protein expression. Survival did not differ with VEGF, mutant p53, or K-ras expression, or the level of MC. In conclusion, there is a flow of molecular alterations from K-ras and p53, to VEGF expression, leading to angiogenesis and ultimately lymph node metastasis. Correlations between variables in close approximation and the lack of prognostic significance of individual molecular alterations suggest that tumorigenesis and metastasis are multifactorial processes.

Keyword

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; K-ras; Protein p53; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/*blood supply/chemistry/mortality
Endothelial Growth Factors/*analysis
Female
Human
Lung Neoplasms/*blood supply/chemistry/mortality
Lymphokines/*analysis
Male
Middle Age
Neovascularization, Pathologic/*metabolism
Protein p53/*analysis
Survival Rate
ras Proteins/*analysis