Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the primary cause of cancer related death worldwide. After resection of early stage NSCLC, the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for patient survival still remains unclear and investigations for further risk stratification are needed for an improved treatment decision. Microvessel density (MVD) influences both the nutrition of the cancer and the access to the bloodstream for the development of distant metastasis. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic significance of microvessel density by CD31 staining in patients with resected stage IA-IIIB NSCLC. We used immunohistochemistry (IHC) of CD31 to examine the microvessel density in a cohort of 69 patients who had undergone radical resection for NSCLC. Correlation of IHC values and standard clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed as well as influence on long term survival. Survival analysis revealed a significant better overall survival for patients with higher median microvessel density (log rank p = 0.031) independent of clinicopathologic parameters. Regarding primary cancer related death, the survival was again significantly longer in patients with high CD31 count (log rank p = 0.036). A higher microvessel density was a strong predictor for a longer tumor related survival and could be used for therapeutic decisions of adjuvant chemotherapy after resection of early stage NSCLC.
Highlights
Neoangiogenesis is the growth of new blood vessels, e.g., into injured tissue and is an important process governed by intricate control mechanisms, which varies depending on physiological circumstances
In human cancers, successful tumor growth and development relies on neoangiogenesis and understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of neoangiogenesis is an important step in combating Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [2]
A total of 69 patients with available NSCLC tumor tissue blocks were included in the analysis of microvessel density (MVD), of these 27 with an adenocarcinoma and 42 with a squamous cell lung cancer
Summary
#Alexander Emmert and Angelika Oellerich contributed to this work. A. Emmert et al 22 death in several countries. The strongest predictors of mortality are TNM classification and the completeness of surgical resection. It is characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells by tumour neoangiogenesis [1]. Weighing 130 kDa, CD31 is integral membrane protein of endothelial cells and a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, which mediates cell-to-cell adhesion [3]. It is expressed on both adult and embryonic endothelial cells [3]
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