Vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] receptor expression correlates with histologic grade and stage of colorectal cancer

Colorectal carcinoma [CRC] is the seventh-most common malignancy and is the main cause of death in Iraq. The incidence of this cancer has increased sharply after the invasion of Iraq in 2003. To estimate immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] in CRC in relation to other parameters, such as grade and stage of tumour. Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks from 52 patients [27 male and 25 female] with CRC were included in this study. A group of 22 patients with non-cancerous colonic tissues were included as a control group. Avidin-biotin complex method was employed for immunohistochemical detection of VEGF. VEGF immuno-expression was positive in 51.9% of CRC, while it was 18.2% in the normal colonic tissue [p<0.05]. VEGF immunostaining was positively correlated with grade of colonic malignancy [p<0.05]. These findings provide further evidence for the role of VEGF in the carcinogenesis of CRC. However, VEGF could not be well correlated with stage of tumour and hence may be a poor prognostic parameter of state of malignancy of colonic carcinoma

Over expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in correlation to Ki-67, grade, and stage of breast cancer

To assess the significance of vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] protein over expression in human breast cancer, and its possible correlation with cell proliferation marker [Ki-67], grade and stage of breast cancer. We carried out this study at the Department of Pathology, Kufa University, between November 2006 and September 2007. A retrospective study was employed on paraffin-embedded blocks from 52 female patients with breast cancer. A group of 21 patients with benign breast lesions was included for comparison and 14 cases of normal breast tissue as a control group. This investigation designed to employ immunohistochemistry using Avidin-Biotin Complex [ABC] method for detection of both VEGF and Ki-67. A total of 87 samples was included. Vascular endothelial growth factor immunoexpression was considered as positive in 61.5% of malignant and in 19% of benign breast lesions. No over expression sign has been noticed in normal breast tissue [p<0.005]. No significant difference in VEGF over expression among different histological types of breast cancer [p>0.05]. Vascular endothelial growth factor immunostaining was positively correlated with Ki-67, grade, stage, lymph node metastasis, and recurrence of breast cancer [p<0.05]. No such correlation has been seen when the age of the patients has been considered. Vascular endothelial growth factor Vascular endothelial growth factor plays an important role in pathogenesis of breast cancer evolution, and supports the evidence of its role in angiogenesis and cell survival. This study recommended that the blocking of VEGF may be a target for blocking angiogenesis and hence improving the efficacy of anti-cancer therapy