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Angiopoietin 2 expression is related to histological grade, vascular density, metastases, and outcome in prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Json Lind Anna,
Wikström Pernilla,
Granfors Torvald,
Egevad Lars,
Stattin Pär,
Bergh Anders
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/pros.20163
Subject(s) - prostate cancer , medicine , prostate , angiopoietin 2 , oncology , angiopoietin , cancer , pathology , vascular endothelial growth factor , vegf receptors
Abstract BACKGROUND In several malignant tissues, the angiopoietins are principal regulators of vascular growth and regression, but in normal prostate and prostate tumors the role of the angiopoietins is unknown. METHODS Angiopoietin (ang) 1 and 2 were immunolocalized in TUR‐diagnosed prostate tumors with long follow‐up and the expression was related to vascular density and clinopathological variables. RESULTS Ang 1 was strongly expressed in the basal epithelial cell layer in non‐malignant tissue, whereas tumors had lower levels localized to the epithelial cells. A weak ang 2 immu‐noreaction was observed in non‐malignant tissue and in low to intermediate Gleason score (GS) tumors, with a similar expression pattern. However, most high GS tumors showed an intense ang 2 staining. Ang 2 was significantly correlated to GS, density of endoglin stained blood vessels, metastases, and to cancer specific survival. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that ang 2 probably is an important regulator of angiogenesis in prostate cancer. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.