Patterns of the vascular endothelial growth factor immune-histochemical expression in lung carcinomas

摘要

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been demonstrated as the main angiogenic molecule in vitro and in vivo. The involvement of VEGF in the prognosis and progression of different types of tumors has been demonstrated by many publications. In the present study we have investigated the patterns of the immunohistochemical expression of VEGF in lung carcinoma. We have investigated 42 biopsies from patients admitted with different histological types of lung carcinoma. The aim of this investigation was to describe the incidence and models of distribution of the positive reaction for VEGF in lung carcinoma. The reaction for VEGF has been evaluated using a scale from 0 (negative) to 3 (strong positive), based on the percentage of positive cells. We found a strong expression for VEGF in cases with squamous cells carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and hepatoid carcinoma, and negative reaction in small cell and large cell carcinomas. Our data suggest that the incidence and intensity of VEGF expression in lung carcinoma can be a good indicator of antiangiogenic therapy based on humanized monoclonal antibody against VEGF.