Expressions of survivin, COX-2, VEGF and their correlations with angiogenesis in condyloma acuminatum

Objective To investigate the expressions of survivin, cyclooxyenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and their relationship with angiogenesis in condyloma acuminatum (CA) tissues. Methods Immunohistochemistry using PowerVision staining kit was performed to detect the expression of survivin, COX-2 and VEGF protein in 60 CA tissue samples from patients and 21 normal skin samples from the foreskin of human controls. At the same time, the microvessel density was determined in CA tissues by staining blood vessel endothelium with anti-CD105 monoclonal antibody. Results The positivity rate of survivin and COX-2 expression was 56.67% and 63.33%, in CA tissues, 9.52% and 0 in normal skin tissues, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups of tissue samples in the positivity rate and intensity of survivin and COX-2 expression (all P < 0.05). VEGF was expressed in all of the CA tissues and normal skin tissues, while the intensity of VEGF expression was statistically different between the two groups of tissue samples (P < 0.05). The MVD was 16.38 ± 5.46 and 0.62 ± 0.44 in CA tissues and normal skin tissues, respectively (P < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the expressions of survivin, COX-2 and VEGF, as well as between MVD and the expressions of survivin and COX-2 in CA tissues. Conclusion The expression levels of survivin, COX-2 and VEGF are significantly higher in CA tissues than in normal skin tissues. Key words: Condyloma acuminata; Survivin; Cyclooxygenase 2; Vascular endothelial growth factor