Premium
Detection and characterization of vascular endothelial growth factors and their receptors in a series of angiosarcomas
Author(s) -
Itakura Eijun,
Yamamoto Hidetaka,
Oda Yoshinao,
Tsuneyoshi Masazumi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.20766
Subject(s) - angiosarcoma , medicine , lymphangiogenesis , lymphatic endothelium , lymphatic system , pathology , hemangiosarcoma , vascular endothelial growth factor c , lymphedema , vascular endothelial growth factor , vegf receptors , metastasis , vascular endothelial growth factor a , cancer , breast cancer
Background Angiosarcomas are malignant mesenchymal neoplasms, including sarcomas of presumptive vascular endothelial origin and sarcomas of probable lymphatic origin. It is, however, often difficult to determine whether they are from blood vascular or lymphatic endothelium. The majority of angiosarcomas are thought to originate from vascular endothelia and spread via bloodstream to lung, but lymphatic metastases can occur. Methods We investigated immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF‐A, VEGF‐C) and their receptors (VEGFR‐1, VEGFR‐2, VEGFR‐3) in a series of 34 angiosarcomas. Results VEGF‐A was expressed by 32/34 (94%), VEGF‐C by 4/34 (12%), VEGFR‐1 by 32/34 (94%), VEGFR‐2 by 22/34 (65%), and VEGFR‐3 by 27/34 (79%). Patients who expressed low or no VEGFR‐2 showed a significantly unfavorable prognosis by log‐rank test ( P = 0.010) and multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 5.16; 95% CI, 1.40–19.04; P = 0.014). VEGFR‐1 and VEGFR‐3 were not significantly associated with patients' prognosis. Conclusions VEGF‐A and VEGFR‐1 were detected in diverse subtypes of angiosarcomas. In cooperation, VEGF‐A and VEGF‐C are likely to be involved in the development of angiosarcoma associated with lymphedema. VEGF‐C expression may cause susceptibility to lymphatic metastasis through tumor lymphangiogenesis. Angiosarcoma of the scalp, which is traditionally considered as a true hemangiosarcoma, may include some cases of lymphatic origin. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;97:74–81. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.