Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): association with p53 gene mutation and prognosis

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine that increases microvascular permeability and directly stimulates endothelial cell growth and angiogenesis. Recent evidence suggests that the genetic regulation of angiogenesis is also of crucial importance and that oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes can regulate it. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of VEGF and its possible asscociation with p53-gene mutation in 89 stage I-IIIa surgically treated NSCLC patients. DNA sequencing of the p53 gene (exons 5–8) showed 40 mutations (45%). Among the 89 NSCLC patients, immunoreactivity for VEGF was weakly, moderately and strongly positive in 35 (39%), 36 (40%) and 18 (20%) cases, respectively. A strong, statistically significant association was found between the presence of a p53 gene mutation and expression of VEGF ( P