Clinical implications of VEGF and Ki-67 expression in astrocytic tumor patients

Objective To evaluate the relationship of VEGF and Ki-67 expression with the pathologic grades, microvessels density, and the prognosis in patients with astrocytic tumors. Methods 48 astrocytic tumor tissues were investigated for VEGF, Ki-67 and FⅧ-RA using S-P immunohistochemical staining. Results There was significant difference of the VEGF expression level between low and high grades astrocytic tumors, in which the positive rate were 26.09% and 64.00% respectively. In high grades (Ⅲ|Ⅳ) astrocytic tumors, Ki-67LI and MVD was also higher than those in low grades (Ⅰ、Ⅱ) astrocytic tumor.In patients with less than two years survival, VEGF positive expression rate, MVD and Ki-67LI are higher than those patients with more than two years survival. Positive correlation also was found between these indexes. Conclusion VEGF can promote tumor angiogenesis and may have effect on the prognosis of the patients. These two indexes, tumor cell proliferation and MVD, can be used to evaluate tumor pathological grades and the prognosis of patients with astrocytic tumor,if they are investigated at the same time.