FeatureVascular endothelial growth factor and prognosis of cervical carcinoma
Section snippets
Patients and methods
From January 1994 to June 1999, 135 subjects were enrolled with stage Ib-IIa cervical carcinoma who had radical abdominal hysterectomies and pelvic lymph node dissections. Women treated with conization, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy before surgery were excluded. The operation method used was the standard type III Wertheim hysterectomy, plus dissection of common iliac and pelvic lymph nodes en bloc. Clinicopathologic characteristics such as demographics, stage, tumor size, histologic type, depth
Results
Patients’ ages ranged from 29–71 years with a mean age of 50.6 years. Sixty-four (47.4%) were postmenopausal. One hundred twenty-two (90.4%) had stage IB and 13 (9.6%) had stage IIA cervical cancer. Pathologic examination showed 103 (76.3%) squamous cell carcinomas, 25 (18.5%) adenocarcinomas, five (3.7%) adenosquamous cell carcinomas, and two (1.5%) small cell carcinomas. Pelvic lymph node metastases were found in 28 of the 135 women (20.7%). Tumor size ranged from 0.3–6.0 cm (mean 2.6). Fifty
Discussion
Tumor angiogenesis is a complex process that involves endothelial cell proliferation, digestion of the extracellular matrix surrounding capillaries, endothelial cell migration, and differentiation into functioning capillaries. Evidence supports the concept that tumors can induce angiogenesis through many angiogenic molecules. VEGF is the most potent angiogenic molecule at present, not only inducing endothelial cell proliferation, but increasing vascular permeability. Our previous studies showed
References (24)
- et al.
Determinants of increased risk for recurrence in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy for stage IB and IIA carcinoma of the cervix
Gynecol Oncol
(1989) - et al.
Risk factors for recurrence in patients with stage IB, IIA, and IIB cervical carcinoma after radical hysterectomy and postoperative pelvic irradiation
Obstet Gynecol
(1996) - et al.
Prognostic factors and operative treatment of stage IB to IIB cervical cancer
Am J Obstet Gynecol
(1987) - et al.
A review of prognostic factors in early stage carcinoma of the cervix (FIGO Ib and IIa) and implication for treatment strategy
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol
(1987) - et al.
Serum vascular endothelial growth factor in epithelial ovarian neoplasmsCorrelation with patient survival
Gynecol Oncol
(1999) - et al.
Vascular endothelial growth factor in cervical carcinoma
Obstet Gynecol
(1999) - et al.
Identification of prognostic factors and risk groups in patients found to have nodal metastases at the time of radical hysterectomy
Gynecol Oncol
(1989) - et al.
Tumor angiogenesis in stage IB cervical cancerCorrelation of microvessel density with survival
Am J Obstet Gynecol
(1998) - et al.
Adjuvant chemotherapy after radical hysterectomy for cervical carcinomaA comparison with effects of adjuvant radiotherapy
Obstet Gynecol
(1998) - et al.
Strategies for global control of cervical cancer
Int J Cancer
(1995)
Annual report on the results of treatment in gynecological cancer
Cited by (90)
Recurrent or primary metastatic cervical cancer: current and future treatments
2022, ESMO OpenCitation Excerpt :Furthermore, VEGF has been identified as a major pro-angiogenic factor and marker of poor prognosis. In fact, overexpression of VEGF/VEGF correlates with larger tumors, parametrial infiltration, lymph node involvement, distant metastasis, and poorer OS; and was also observed in tumor samples obtained from CC patients with post-RT relapse.20-23 Bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting VEGF, was the most widely studied and used anti-angiogenic therapy in patients with CC.24
Genomic insights in gynecologic cancer
2017, Current Problems in CancerCitation Excerpt :However, to date, studies targeting EGFR activity in cervical cancer have shown minimal activity suggesting that our knowledge of how EGFR interacts in HPV-related cervical cancer is incomplete.311 Gene expression profiles of cervical cancer have found increased intratumoral levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) compared to normal cervical tissue.312 Overexpression of VEGF is associated with higher-stage disease, increased risk of lymph node metastasis, as well as poorer prognosis: worse disease-free and OS rates.312-314
Beyond Chemotherapy: An Overview and Review of Targeted Therapy in Cervical Cancer
2016, Clinical TherapeuticsCitation Excerpt :Specifically, the VEGF family consists of signaling proteins (VEGF-A, B, C, D, and E) and cell surface tyrosine kinase receptors (VEGFR-1, 2, and 3) that together yield receptor activation and subsequent downstream signaling necessary for endothelial cell proliferation and migration, and ultimately neovascularization.5 In terms of cervical cancer, increased VEGF expression and microvessel density have both been correlated with poorer prognosis, making anti-angiogenic therapies a promising option.6,7 The most frequently utilized anti-angiogenic treatment for cervical cancer is bevacizumab, a humanized, monoclonal antibody against VEGF-A, thus preventing activation of VEGFR-1 and 2 and ensuing cell proliferation.8
Molecular staging of gynecological cancer: What is the future?
2015, Best Practice and Research: Clinical Obstetrics and GynaecologyCitation Excerpt :Despite positive association with clinical outcome, these biomarkers are not being used because of the lack of consistent studies with large sample sizes and prospective data. VEGF: High intra-tumor VEGF expression was related to poor PFS and OS in a series of 135 women with stage IB and IIA CC [77]. Another study including 173 CC patients treated with postsurgical radiotherapy because of lymph node or parametria or vaginal disease did not show a significant association between VEGF immunostaining and survival [78].
Pharmacotherapy for the treatment of recurrent cervical cancer: an update of the literature
2024, Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy