Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its mRNA in uterine cervical cancers

To know the potential of growth, invasion and metastasis of uterine cervical cancer associated with neovascularization, localization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density in tumours were determined by immunohistochemical staining, the levels of VEGF subtypes were determined by Western blot analysis and by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay, and the levels of VEGF subtype mRNAs were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) – Southern blot analysis in uterine cervical cancers. The relation between VEGF subtype expressions and microvessel density, histological types and clinical stages of uterine cervical cancers was analysed. The expression of VEGF was seen dominantly in the cancer cells, and correlated with microvessel density in uterine cervical cancers. Among the four subtypes of VEGF, the populations of VEGF(165) and VEGF(121) were dominant in normal uterine cervices and uterine cervical cancers. The levels of VEGF and VEGF(165) and VEGF(121) mRNAs were remarkably higher in some stage II and III/IV adenocarcinomas of the cervix than in other cases, including normal cervices. Therefore, the elevation of VEGF(165) and VEGF(121) might contribute to the relatively late advancing via angiogenic activity in some adenocarcinomas of the cervix. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign