Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Its Receptor flk-1 in Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Correlation to Cathepsin Expression and Prognosis

摘要

Angiogenesis and decomposition of the extracellular matrix are essential suppositions for the growth of solid tumors. Cathepsins are a class of proteinases able to degradate extracellular matrix. They may have significance as a prognostic factor in soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a specific endothelial cell mitogen and inducer of angiogenesis in normal as well as in tumor tissue. Little is known about VEGF and possible correlations to cathepsins in STS. Therefore we investigated the expression of VEGF and the VEGF-receptor flk-1 in 36 STS with known expression rates for cathepsin L, S, D and procathepsin L. Twelve samples (33.3%) were positive for VEGF, and 20 (55.6%) for flk-1.This is comparable with the known expression rates in carcinomas.We have found neither a significant correlation to histomorphological and clinical parameters nor to cathepsin expression. Summarizing, we could not prove any pro-gnostical relevance for immunohistochemi-cal detection of VEGF or flk-1. A correlation between cathepsin expression and the investigated angiogenic factors was also not evident.