Expressions of VEGF and nm23 protein in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and their clinical significance

Objective To investigate the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nm23 protein and intratumoral microvascular density(MVD) in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder and their correlation with metastasis and invasion. Methods The clinical data of 55 cases of TCC of the bladder from 1978 to 1992 were collected. Six specimens of normal bladder mucosa served as controls. The expressions of VEGF, nm23 and CD34 protein in TCC tissues and normal bladder mucosa were detected by immunohistochemistry. MVD was determined according to the result of CD34 protein staining. Results The positive rate of VEGF protein expression in TCC was 47.3%. VEGF expression was correlated to invasion, metastasis and prognosis of TCC. MVD in VEGF-positive cases was significantly higher than that of VEGF-negative cases (P0.01). The positive rate of nm23 protein expression in TCC was 63.6%. The positive rate of nm23 in TCC was of significant difference between the cases with vessel invasion and without. MVD of nm23-positive cases was significantly lower than that of nm23-negative cases (P0.05). The correlation analysis showed that VEGF expression was negatively related to nm23 expression in TCC(r=0.647, P0.01). The cases with positive VEGF expression and negative nm23 expression were easy to develop metastasis. Conclusion VEGF may be one of main angiogenesis factors and was correlated with development, metastasis and prognosis of TCC. The combined detection of VEGF and nm23 may be a predictor for metastasis and prognosis of TCC.