The Relationship between Expression of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1alpha or Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Histopathological Characteristics in Human Renal Cell Carcinoma / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: HIF-1alpha (Hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha) and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) have been reported to be involved in tumor growth and metastasis, but only a little data on the roles of HIF-1alpha and VEGF in renal cell carcinomas are available, and few studies have yet evaluated their prognostic values. The aim of the present study was to assess the HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression and evaluate the relationships between HIF-1alpha/VEGF and the histopathological characteristics in renal cell carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HIF-1alpha and VEGF immunohistochemical stainings were performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissues from 22 renal cell carcinoma tissues and 13 normal kidney tissues, used as a control group. The interpretation of the immunohistochemical stainings were semi-quantitatively performed by one pathologist. RESULTS: The expressions of HIF-1alpha and VEGF were significantly higher in the patient than the control group. The HIF-1alpha and VEGF expressions were correlated to each other, and inclined to be positively correlated with the pathological stage and grade of the renal cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The HIF-1alpha and VEGF expressions might be independent predictors of the outcome, as well as the stage and grade of renal cell carcinomas. This study suggests that HIF-1alpha and VEGF may be potential prognostic factors in renal cell carcinomas.