EXPRESSION OF THE VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR AND ITS RECEPTORS (VEGFR-1 AND VEGFR-2) IN PRIMARY TUMOR CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH RENAL CANCER

Purpose: to study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (vegf-a) and its receptors (vegfr-1 and vegfr-2) in renal cell carcinoma (rcc) cells and assess the effect of the expression levels of these markers on the tumor characteristics and prognosis of patients with rcc. Material and methods . The study included 65 patients with rcc (pt1a-t4n0/+m0/+). All patients underwent radical surgery. Histological tumor tissue samples obtained during surgery were used for the study. Expression of vegfa, vegfr-1, -2 was studied by immunohistochemical staining using appropriate antibodies to receptors and growth factors. Results. Expression of vegf and vegfr-1 and vegfr-2 receptors was ound in the cytoplasm and on the membrane of primary tumor cells of patients with rcc. There was a significant direct correlation of overexpression of the markers with g 3-4 anaplasia (vegfr-1, -2) and signs of significant tumor extension, including high pt category (vegfr-1, -2), larger size of the primary tumor (vegfr-1 , -2), tumor invasion of paranephria (vegf, vegfr-1), tumor venous thrombosis (vegfr-1, -2), multiple metastases (vegf-2), metastases in the adrenal gland (vegf, vegfr-2) and liver (vegfr-1) (p0.05). Conclusion . Expression of vegfa, as well as vegfr-1 and vegfr-2 receptors, was found on the surface and in the cytoplasm of cells of the primary tumor of patients with rcc (pt1a-t4n0/+m0/+). There was a significant correlation between vegf/vegfr overexpression with a high grade (g3-4) tumor anaplasia and significant tumor extension. In univariate analysis, a significant adverse effect on specific survival of vegfr-2 overexpression was observed. In regression analysis, vegfr-2 overexpression tended to independently affect specific survival. These results show the importance of vegf/vegfr expression as biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma.