Association of vascular endothelial growth factor expression with tumor angiogenesis, survival and thymidine phosphorylase/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression in human colorectal cancer

To examine the association of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression with tumor angiogenesis, survival and thymidine phosphorylase/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (dThdPase/PD-ECGF) expression in human colorectal cancer, immunohistochemical studies were performed on 136 cases of resected colorectal cancer specimens using antibodies for VEGF, KDR, CD34 and dThdPase/PD-ECGF. Fifty-nine cases (43%) were evaluated as positive for VEGF staining and 71 cases (52%) were evaluated as positive for dThdPase/PD-ECGF staining. The expression of VEGF correlated significantly with vessel counts and the expression of dThdPase/PD-ECGF (P = 0.01 and 0.01, respectively). Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that vessel counts and VEGF expression were significant and independent prognostic factors, but that KDR expression was not. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.