Correlation between Angiogenesis and Extracellular Matrix in Human Prostatic Cancer

[Objective] To study the correlation between angiogenesis and extracellular matrix in human prostate cancer and their relationship with the biological behavior of tumor.[Methods] Microvessel density(MVD), laminin(LN) expression,type Ⅳ collagen(COLⅣ),fibronectin(FN) in 38 cases of invasive prostatic cancer were detected with antibodies to F8-RAg,LN,COLⅣ,FN using immunohistochemical techniques(LSAB).[Results] Microvessel density in highly differentiated prostatic cancer was significantly lower than that in poorly differentiated and undifferentiated prostatic cancer(P0.05).Microvessel density in prostatic cancer with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that in node-negative cancer(P0.001).It was found that expressions of LN,COLⅣ and FN were related to the degree of tumor differentiation and lymph node,being positive or negative metastasis.Continuous(linear) was displayed in the most highly differentiated or node-negative carcinoma,while interrupted(linear) or fragmentary in the most poorly differentiated,undifferentiated or node-positive carcinoma.And microvessel density in prostatic cancers in which LN,COLⅣ or FN appeared continuously was significantly lower than that appearing discontinuously.[Conclusion] Angiogenesis and ECM both play important roles in invasion and metastasis of human prostatic cancer.