Expression And Correlation Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor And Estrogen Receptor In Human Endometrial Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the main cytokine in promoting the vascularization of tumor. The expression of VEGF has great influence on the biological behavior of tumor and is closely related to the growth and pathogenesis of endometrium. The expression of ER in tumor is related to the endocrinal effect and prognosis. The expression of ER in endometrial carcinoma is one of the markers for therapy and prognosis. Our studies focuse on the expressions and correlation of VEGF and ER in human normal endometrum, endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma, and provide a series of experimental evidences and a novel clue for the diagnosis and treatment of endometrial disease.METHODS: The expressions of VEGF and ER in human 30 normal endometrum, 30 endometrial hyperplasia and 50 carcino- ma were examined by DAKO-Envision immunohistochemical analysis and computerized image analysis system.RESULTS: (1) Positive signals of VEGF were yellow granules in cytoplasm of glandular epithelial cells and stroma cells, and the positive signals of ER were in nucleus. (2 )Expression of VEGF in endometrial carcinomas was significantly higher than that in normal endometrium (P<0.05) and endometrial hyperplasia (P<0.05) , and the result of ER was inverse (P<0.01 ) . ( 3 ) Expression of ER in nonendometrioid carcinomas was lower than that in endometrioid carcinoma (P<0.01), Expression of ER in grade 3 endometrial carcinomas was remarkablylower than that in grade 1 and 2 (PO.01) . Expression of ER in stage III endometrial carcinomas was lower than that in stage I and II (P<0.05) <> Expression of VEGF in grade 3 endometrial carcinomas was significantly higher than that in grade 1 and 2 (PO.05) .No correlation was found between expression of VEGF in endometrial carcinomas and FIGO stage and histologic type (P>0.05). (4) Expression of VEGF had inverse correlation with the expression of ER in endometrial carcinomas O=-0.4216, rr=-3.9705, PO.01).CONCLUSION: Expression of ER in endometrial carcinomas has correlation with the tumorigenicity and prognosis of endometrial carcinomas and that of VEGF has correlation with the tumorigenicity and rapid tumor growth. ER may influence the biologic characteristics of endometrial carcinoma through certain interaction with VEGF.