Journal de cytologie et d'histologie

Expression of VEGF-A in Intraepithelial and Invasive Cervical Neoplasia

Abstract

Maria Cristina A Westin, Silvia Helena Rabelo-Santos, Liliana A L Ângelo-Andrade, Sophie Derchain, Glauce A Pinto, Sirlei Morais, Paulo L Filho and Luiz C Zeferino

Angiogenesis seems to be an early event that is associated with disease progression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The aim of this study was to describe and analyze VEGF-A expression in CIN 3 and invasive cervical carcinoma, in tumor cells and stromal cells. This study comprised three groups: Group 1: 53 cases with CIN 3; Group 2: 24 cases with both CIN 3 and invasive carcinoma components; Group 3: 36 cases with invasive carcinoma. Protein expression was investigated in tumor and stromal cells by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis was carried out, considering the mean percentage of immunopositive cells. VEGF-A expression was higher in stromal cells in cases of invasive carcinoma (Group 3) than in CIN 3 cases (Group 1) and this difference was statistically significant. VEGF-A expression showed a borderline association between stromal cells in invasive carcinoma (Group 3) and invasive carcinoma associated with CIN 3 (Group 2). The mean percentage of cells expressing VEGF-A was significantly higher in tumor cells in CIN 3 than in stromal cells in CIN 3 (Group 1). The progression of CIN 3 to invasive carcinoma seems be determined by complex interactions between tumor and stromal cells. These findings reinforce the evidence of the role of stromal cells in tumor invasiveness.