Tumor Angiogenesis Correlated with bFGF and FGFR-1 in Lung Cancer

Abstract

Objective: To study the relationship between angiogenesis and the expression of bFGF and FGFR-1 in lung cancer. Methods: The specimens of 56 patients with lung cancer treated with surgery were collected. Anti-Von Willebrand factor antibody was used to measure microvascular density (MVD) by means of SABC immunohistochemical technique, and antibody to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and its receptor (FGFR-1) to detect the expression of these three proteins in the tumor tissues. The survival time was compared between low MVD and high MVD groups by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: (1) The expression of MVD showed no significant difference in some clinical characteristics, including sex, age, T stage, M stage and pathologic type, but significant difference in N stage (P<0.01) and clinical stage (P<0.05). (2) Survival analysis showed that high MVD group was associated with a risk of death (P<0.01). (3) The expression of bFGF and FGFR-1 were both related to lymphatic metastasis and clinical staging (P<0.05). (4) Significant difference was seen between low MVD and high MVD groups in the bFGF expression in lung cancer (P<0.01), whereas no correlation in FGFR-1. (5) High co-expression of bFGF and FGFR-1 was consistent in tumor cells. Conclusion: (1) MVD is a good prognostic factor for patients of lung cancer, and the same as bFGF. (2) The angiogenesis may be induced after bFGF binding to FGFR-1.