Immunohistochemical evaluation of VEGF in prostate cancer

Koba Kiknavelidze*, Lutz Trojan**, Thomas Daniel**, Knoll Tomas**, Moris Stephan Michel**

*National Center of Urology, Tsinandali 9, 0144, Tbilisi, Georgia. E-mail: kiknavelidze@yahoo.com;
**Department of Urology, University Hospital Mannheim, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68167 Mannheim, German

We evaluated expression of VEGF in prostate cancer specimen in tumorous and non-tumorous tissue in a standardised setting. Material and Methods: Immunohistochemical staining of prostate cancer (PCa) specimens for VEGF was performed (n=30). Sections were analysed for growth factor-positive cancer/epithelial cells as well as staining intensity in malignant and histologically benign, non-tumorous tissue. Results: The number of VEGF positive cells in PCa was significantly enhanced compared to non-tumorous tissue (p<0.0001), whereas there was no difference in staining intensity. In benign glands, VEGF expression is chiefly restricted to basal cells. Conclusion: Our results show that VEGF plays an important role in the angiogenesis and carcinogenesis of prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Keywords:  prostate cancer, VEGF, growth factor