Vascular density is a predictor of cancer-specific survival in prostatic carcinoma

Prostate. 1997 Sep 15;33(1):38-45. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0045(19970915)33:1<38::aid-pros7>3.0.co;2-5.

Abstract

Background: Microvessel density has been shown to give prognostic information in a variety of solid tumors, but its role in prostatic carcinoma needs further elucidation.

Methods: Intratumoral density of von Willebrand factor-positive microvessels was assessed in 98 cases of prostatic carcinoma, diagnosed at transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) between 1975-1983, using two methods: 1) volume density of microvessels and 2) vascular count in the 2-3 most vascularized fields.

Results: Volume density and vascular counts were highly correlated. In Kaplan-Meyer analysis, mean cancer-specific survival time for patients with a vascular count < 135 was significantly longer than for patients with a vascular count > 135 (P = 0.0064). The same results applied to patients with WHO grade II tumors (P = 0.01). Excluding metastasis in a multivariate analysis, both tumor stage and vascular count had an independent predictive value for cancer-specific survival in patients with WHO grade II tumors.

Conclusions: Microvessel density may predict cancer-specific survival in prostatic carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blood Vessels / pathology
  • Carcinoma / blood supply*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Microcirculation
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Survival Analysis