Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor with survival and pathological characteristics of patients with osteosarcoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

VEGFC Gene Expression Is Associated with Tumor Progression and Disease-Free Survival in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is one of the most common cancers in the skin. CSCC belongs to the non-melanoma skin cancers, and its incidence is increasing every year around the world. The principal routes of tumor progression are related to angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. In this study, we assess the gene expression of the relevant biomarkers of both routes in 49 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) CSCC samples in an attempt to determine a molecular profile that correlates with the tumor progression and disease-free survival (DFS). The results were enhanced by a posttranscriptional analysis using an immunofluorescence assay. Overexpression of the vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC) gene was found in patients with tumor progression (p = 0.022) and in patients with perineural invasion (p = 0.030). An increased expression of protein VEGFC in samples with tumor progression supported these results (p = 0.050). In addition, DFS curves showed differences (p = 0.027) for tumors with absent-low VEGFC expression versus those with high levels of VEGFC expression. No significant influence on DFS was detected for the remaining analyzed genes. VEGFC expression was found to be a risk factor in the disease progression (HR = 2.675; 95% CI: 1.089-6.570; p = 0.032). Our main results suggest that VEGFC gene expression is closely related to tumor progression, DFS, and the presence of perineural invasion.

Immunostaining for VEGF and Decorin Predicts Poor Survival and Recurrence in Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma

The aim of this study was to investigate whether using immunohistochemistry to detect the angiogenic proteins vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and decorin can help predict the risk of local recurrence of, or death from, canine soft tissue sarcoma (STS). VEGF and decorin were detected using validated immunohistochemical methods on 100 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of canine STS. The tumours had been resected previously, with clinical outcome determined by questionnaire. Each slide was assessed by light microscopy and the pattern of immunostaining with VEGF and decorin determined. Patterns of immunostaining were then analysed to detect associations with outcome measures of local recurrence and tumour-related death. High VEGF immunostaining was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with both increased local recurrence and reduced survival time. The distribution of decorin immunostaining within the tumour was significantly associated with survival time (p = 0.04) and local tumour recurrence (p = 0.02). When VEGF and decorin scores were combined, STS with both high VEGF and low decorin immunostaining were more likely to recur or cause patient death (p < 0.001). The results of this study suggest that immunostaining of VEGF and decorin may help predict the risk of local recurrence of canine STS.