Objective: This investigation was done to show the pathological importance of p53 protein detection, vascular endothelial growth factor expression (VEGF) and intratumoral microvessel density (IMVD) in astrocytoma.
Methods: The surgical specimens from 60 brain astrocytoma patients were stained immunohistochemically for p53 and IMVD expressions. IMVD was calculated by labeling the endothelial cells of the blood vessels within the tumor.
Results: p53, VEGF expression were closely correlated with histopathological grade of astrocytoma. Positive p53 protein accumulation and VEGF expression were found in 45.0% (27/60) and 65.0% (39/60) of tumors. The conformation rate of p53 and VEGF was 70.0% (42/60). IMVD was significantly higher in the p53-positive or VEGF-positive tumors than in the negative ones (P < 0.05). Comparing the IMVD in p53+/VEGF+ group, p53-/VEGF+ group and p53+/VEGF- group, p53-/VEGF- group, its difference was also highly significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: (1) p53 protein detection, VEGF expression and IMVD can be considered as a biological indicator of malignant potential in brain astrocytoma patients and (2) p53 and VEGF expressions, both contributing to the tumor neovascularization, may be helpful in the understanding of intra-tumoral angiogenetic mechanism in the future.