Microvessel Density and Its Utililty by CD34 Staining in Bladder Transitional Cell Carcinoma / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We investigated how tumor angiogenesis correlates with other prognostic features i. e. histologic grade and tumor stage, also evaluated whether microvessel density(MVD) has predictability of disease progression for T1 lesions and could be used for patients selection of early intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 62 patients with transitional cell carcinoma(TCC) of the bladder and counted microvessels by immunohistochemisty using antibody for CD34 antigen. The extent of tumor-associated angiogenesis in specimen was evaluated by immunohistochemical methods using HPCA-1, a mouse monoclonal antibody directed against the endothelial cell antigen, CD 34. The number of microvessels in a 200x microscopic high power field (hfp) containing the area of greatest neovascularization within or immediately adjacent to each tumor determined. RESULTS: In bladder tumor, the MVD did not correlate to the increase of histologic grade (54.0+/-25.3 for grade 0 (n=7), 90.5+/-22.8 for grade 1 (n=12), 94.5+/-33.9 for grade 2 (n=17), 109.5 +/-37.6 for grade 3 (n=26)) and stage (47.0+/-26.3 for Ta (n=8), 92.7+/-23.8 for T1 (n=31), 112.4+/-46.4 for T2 (n=9), 98.4+/-30.3 for T3 (n=7), 123.5+/-43.7 for T4 (n=7)). But MVD in grade 0 and Ta were lower than any other grades and stages. MVD in progressive G3T1 (n=9) was higher than that of non-progressive G3T1 (n=8)(p<0.05, 131.1+/-49.0 vs 94.5+/-32.8). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant relationship among the mean vessel count and tumor grade and stage. But grade 0 and stage Ta were significantly lower microvessel counts than any other grade or stage. Remarkably decreased angiogenesis in grade 0 and stage Ta bladder tumor suggested that angiogenesis in bladder tumor may appear as the early step in tumor formation. Microvessel density in progressive superficial TCC was higher than that in nonprogressive superficial TCC. It was suggested that increased MVD in the specimen of TURBT may predict tumor progression.