Angiogenesis in advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma with special reference to tumoral invasion

Abstract

-Background -Angiogenesis is a crucial step in tumor growth and progression. Its quantification by microvessel counting has a prognostic value in several types of malignancies and recently has been appraised in gastrointestinal tumors. Aim -To assess the prognostisc significance of microvessel quantification in colorectal carcinomas, studying its association with hematogenous metastases, survival and clinicopathological variables such as size, histologic differentiation and depth of tumoral invasion. Patients/Methods -Forty eight patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were included in this study. Histologic sections of invasion tumoral margin (4 µm) were analyzed and endothellined microvessels were immunostained with monoclonal mouse Von Willebrand Factor (anti-FVIII). The microvessel count was performed from the identification of the area with increased microvessel density -hot spots -and results of the mean in five of these fields. Results -The cut-off microvessel count was 14 microvessels/0,785 mm 2 , which divided the sample into hypovascular and hypervascular groups. While 2/8 (25%) tumors with muscularis propria invasion were classified as hypervascular, 11/15 (73%) tumors with serosa or perivisceral fat were classified as hypervascular. However, a non-significant statistical association was found between the angiogenesis quantification, hematogenous metastases, survival and clinicopathological variables such as size and histologic differentiation of the tumor. Conclusions -The findings of significantly increase of microvessel count in conformity with tumoral invasion depth supports the hypothesis that tumor progression might be related to angiogenesis. Although angiogenesis is an important step in the tumoral growth and during the metastatization process, other factors can be implicated.

The relationship between the stromal mast cell number, microvessel density, c-erbb-2 staining and survival and prognostic factors in colorectal carcinoma

“…Many studies report a relationship between increased MVD and decreased survival (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38). Some investigators have reported that MVD is not a prognostic factor in colorectal carcinomas (39,40).…”

Tumour Angiogenesis in Rectal Cancer-Computer-Assisted Endosonographic and Immunohistochemical Methods for Assessment

“…There are a lot of reports showing that the higher microvessel density is associated with the metastases development, poor prognosis and life expectancy shortage in colorectal cancer patients (Choi et al, 1998;Engel et al, 1996;Frank et al, 1995;Galindo, 2000;Giatromanolaki et al, 2006Koukourakis et al, 2005Li et al, 2003Rasheeda S. et al, 2009;Sternfeld et al, 1999, Takahashi et al, 1997Takebayashi et al, 1996;Tanigawa et al, 1997;Tomisaki et al, 1996;Uribarrena et al, 2009;White et al, 2002). However, there are conflicting results regarding the prognostic value of tumour MVD (Abdala et al, 1999, Bossi et al, 1995Ellis at al., 1998;Pietra et al, 2000;Tarta et al, 2002). In the current study the microvessel counts are high (163/mm² on average), which confirms the assumption that the rectal carcinoma is strongly dependent on angiogenesis.…”

Pit Pattern Diagnosis for Colorectal Neoplasia Using Narrow Band Imaging Magnification

“…Generally, angiogenesis is considered to correlate with carcinoma development 20–22 . In the esophageal field it has been reported that intrapapillary capillary loop detected using magnified observation is a useful indicator for invasion depth diagnosis for superficial esophageal carcinoma 23 .…”