Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in Patients With Serous Ovarian Carcinoma and Their Clinical Significance

Abstract

Background:Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has an essential role in tumor metastasis by inducing the construction of abnormal blood vessels. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is involved in different parts of cancer growth such as tumor initiation, angiogenesis and metastasis.Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of VEGF and EGFR in ovarian cancer in southern Iran and to assess the correlation between expression of these two markers and patients’ age, tumor stage, and grade.Patients and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 50 paraffin blocks of serous ovarian adenocarcinomas and 50 paraffin-embedded specimens from control individuals operated for reasons other than malignancy were immunohistochemically stained using anti-human VEGF and EGFR antibodies.Results:A significant difference in the frequency of positive expression of VEGF was observed in ovarian cancer patients (25.0%) compared with the control group (8.0%) (P = 0.023). A significant difference between EGFR expression in patients (56.8%) and controls (24.0%) was also obtained (P = 0.001). No significant correlation between VEGF and EGFR expression and patients’ age, tumor grade and stage were detected (P > 0.05).Conclusions:The significant increase in both VEGF and EGFR in the patients with ovarian cancer compared to healthy individuals could have prognostic value. Identifying these markers may be useful for chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic strategies for patients with serous ovarian cancer.

The Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Ovarian Cancer

“…varian cancer is the sixth most frequent diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, the second most common gynecologic malignancy in females, and the most fatal tumor of female reproductive system [1] . Several genetic and environmental factors have been shown to be implicated in the development of this type of cancer.…”

Anti-Proliferative Effects of Human Anti-FZD7 Single Chain Antibodies on Colorectal Cancer Cells

“…Identification of a proper antigen for targeted therapy is a key concept (40). The extracellular part or CRD domain of FZD receptors, which act as binding sites for Wnt ligands, can be targeted by peptides to inhibit binding of wnt ligands thus preventing Wnt/β-catenin signaling.…”

“…The extracellular part or CRD domain of FZD receptors, which act as binding sites for Wnt ligands, can be targeted by peptides to inhibit binding of wnt ligands thus preventing Wnt/β-catenin signaling. It has been shown that targeting of special parts of some extracellular domains of cancer cell receptors leads to anti-proliferative effects (36,(40)(41)(42). The specificity of tumor binding and anti-proliferative properties of the selected scFvs suggests that these human high affinity and small anti-FZD7 scFvs might have a therapeutic potential for colorectal cancer targeting therapy.…”

Cancer-Testis Antigens: A Novel Group of Tumor Biomarkers in Ovarian Cancers

“…Ovarian cancer as the most fatal gynecological malignancy has been a subject of screening programs for decades (1,2). Yet no effective screening strategy has been identified so far.…”