RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is one of the most important factors in the progression and me-tastasis of malignancies. Angiogenesis is a multistep process requiring the interaction of numerous factors able to stimulate the growth and development of new vessels. But, understanding of the mechanism involved in VEGF expression is unclear. METHODS: Expressions of p53 and VEGF, and neovasculiarization were examined in 19 cases of surgically resected non-small cell carcinoma of the lung by the immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, VEGF mRNA expressions were quantified in all cases using the real-time quantitative RT-PCR. These results were compared with clinicopathologic parameters such as histologic grade and stage. RESULTS: Tumors with high aberrant p53 expressions showed significantly higher VEGF mRNA ex-pressions and microvessel counts than those with low p53 expressions. Expressions of p53 as well as VEGF and micovessel counts were closely associated with the tumor stage, but not with the histologic grade and other clinical parameters. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that aberrant p53 expression may play a role in the regulation of VEGF expression and may be involved in controlling angiogenesis in non-small cell carcinoma of the lung.