[Microvessel density and expressions of survivin and vascular endothelial growth factor in non-small cell lung cancer and their correlations to clinicopathologic features].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Survivin, an anti-apoptosis gene, expresses in most tumors, and takes part in tumor angiogenesis. This study was to investigate microvessel density (MVD) and expressions of Survivin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and explore their correlations to clinicopathologic features of NSCLC.

METHODS: MVD and expressions of Survivin and VEGF in 96 specimens of NSCLC tissues, 31 specimens of tumor adjacent tissues, and 20 specimens of benign lesions were detected by SP immunohistochemistry; their interrelations and correlations to clinicopathologic features of NSCLC were analyzed.

RESULTS: Positive rate of Survivin was significantly higher in NSCLC than in adjacent tissues and benign lesions (69.8% vs. 16.1% and 0, P<0.05); its expression was related with differentiation and TNM stage of NSCLC. Positive rate of VEGF was significantly higher in NSCLC than in adjacent tissues and benign lesions (72.9% vs. 45.2% and 25.0%, P<0.05); its expression was related with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage of NSCLC. MVD was significantly higher in NSCLC than in adjacent tissues and benign lesions (24.44+/-7.79 vs. 19.37+/-5.26 and 11.83+/-6.25, P<0.05), and was related with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage of NSCLC. Survivin expression was positively correlated with VEGF expression and MVD.

CONCLUSION: Survivin is overexpressed in NSCLC, which relates with differentiation and TNM stage of NSCLC and takes part in angiogenesis.