ABSTRACT
Research on tumor angiogenesis has mainly focused on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family and on methods to block its actions. However, reports on VEGF receptor (VEGFR) expression in tumor-associated endothelial cells (ECs) are limited. Thus, we evaluated VEGF, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 expression in ECs of colorectal cancer (CRC) using immunohistochemistry. VEGF, VEGFR-1 and -2 expression in ECs was quantitatively evaluated by digital image analysis in a retrospective series of 204 tumor tissue samples and related to clinical variables. The data show that the VEGF, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 expression in ECs is heterogeneous. Multivariate analysis including a set of clinicopathological variables reveals that high EC VEGFR-1 expression is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS). The combination of low VEGFR-1 and high VEGFR-2 expression in ECs outperforms models integrating VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 as separate markers. Indeed, this VEGFR-1_VEGFR-2 combination is an independent negative prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.012) and metastasis-free survival (p = 0.007). In conclusion, this work illustrates the importance of studying the distribution of VEGF members in ECs of CRC. Interestingly, our preliminary data suggest that high VEGFR-1 and low VEGFR-2 expression in ECs appear to be involved in the progression of CRC, suggesting that targeting EC VEGFR-1 could offer novel opportunities for CRC treatment. However, a prospective validation study is needed.
Subject(s)
Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1/metabolism , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/metabolism , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Prognosis , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolismABSTRACT
We describe a case of light chain deposition disease presenting as worsening of renal failure with a lytic femoral bone lesion discovered by sonography. Although sonography cannot be considered to be the test of choice in evaluating multiple myeloma, this technique may allow the detection and the biopsy of osteolytic bone lesions, particularly in accessible locations. Differential diagnosis is discussed.
