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Original Articles

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor expression correlates with histologic grade and stage of colorectal cancer

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Article: 5059 | Received 15 Nov 2009, Accepted 20 Feb 2010, Published online: 08 Apr 2010
 

Abstract

Background: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the seventh-most common malignancy and is the main cause of death in Iraq. The incidence of this cancer has increased sharply after the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Aim: To estimate immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in CRC in relation to other parameters, such as grade and stage of tumour.

Methods: Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks from 52 patients (27 male and 25 female) with CRC were included in this study. A group of 22 patients with non-cancerous colonic tissues were included as a control group. Avidin–biotin complex method was employed for immunohistochemical detection of VEGF.

Results: VEGF immuno-expression was positive in 51.9% of CRC, while it was 18.2% in the normal colonic tissue (p<0.05). VEGF immunostaining was positively correlated with grade of colonic malignancy (p<0.05).

Conclusion: These findings provide further evidence for the role of VEGF in the carcinogenesis of CRC. However, VEGF could not be well correlated with stage of tumour and hence may be a poor prognostic parameter of state of malignancy of colonic carcinoma.