Expression of VEGF and its correlation with tumor interstitial microvascular density and tumor metastasis in bladder transitional cell carcinoma

Objective To study the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor(VEGF) and its correlation with interstitial microvascular density(MVD) and tumor metastasis in transitional cell carcinoma of bladder(TCC). Methods The expression of VEGF and MVD were detected in 68 cases of bladder transitional cell carcinoma and 10 cases of corresponding non-tumor normal tissue by immunohistochemical technique. Results In comparison with corresponding non-tumor normal tissue (20.0%)-the expression of VEGF in bladder carcinoma (45.6%) was significantly higher (P0.01). MVD was much higher in the group of VEGF positive expression than that in the group of VEGF negative expression- there was a positive correlation between VEGF and MVD(P0.01). In addition-the expression of VEGF was correlated with histological grade and clinical stages and lymph node metastasis (P0.01)- but there was no relationship with age and tumor size(P05). Conclusions VEGF may promote the angiogenesis and play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. VEGF may be a important indicator to determine biological behavior and prognosis of bladder carcinoma.