Prognostic implications of VEGF in renal cell carcinoma (RCC)

VEGF has been significantly correlated with poor overall survival in RCC¹

In a study of 229 tumor samples from patients with varying stages of RCC, Jacobsen et al showed that VEGF expression, as measured by tissue microarray, was significantly correlated with poorer overall survival. This study supports the use of VEGF as a prognostic factor in RCC.¹

Jacobsen J, Grankvist K, Rasmuson T, Bergh A, Landberg G, Ljungberg B. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor protein in human renal cell carcinoma. BJU Int. 2004;93:297-302. Reproduced with permission of Blackwell Publishing.

Jacobsen et al examined vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in 229 tumor samples from patients who underwent nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) at various disease stages. The investigators reported correlation between VEGF expression and tumor size and tumor stage, but more notably, they reported significantly decreased survival for patients whose tumors highly expressed VEGF, as measured by tissue microarray (P=0.011).¹

In 74 RCC samples, Paradis et al demonstrated that high VEGF expression was significantly correlated with decreased survival.² Furthermore, Yildiz et al investigated the relationship between clinical outcomes and both microvessel invasion and VEGF expression in 48 RCC tumor samples. This group demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between microvessel invasion and death due to RCC (P<0.001). The investigators also observed that VEGF expression levels were significant negative predictors of survival in RCC (P<0.001).³

References:

1.

Jacobsen J, Grankvist K, Rasmuson T, Bergh A, Landberg G, Ljungberg B. BJU Int. 2004;93:297-302.

2.

Paradis V, Lagha NB, Zeimoura L, et al. Virchows Arch. 2000;436:351-356.

3.

Yildiz E, Gokce G, Kilicarslan H, Ayan S, Goze OF, Gultekin EY. BJU Int. 2004;93:1087-1093.