Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in renal cell carcinoma and the relation to angiogenesis and p53 protein expression

Background and Objectives: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) seems to play an important role in tumor angiogenesis. The tumor‐suppressor gene p53 has been thought to regulate VEGF expression. We investigated the effect of VEGF expression on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and the correlation between the expression of VEGF and tumor angiogenesis and p53 protein expression. Methods: Sixty‐two RCCs were examined by immunohistochemical studies with anti‐VEGF, anti‐p53, and anti‐CD34 antibodies. Results: Forty tumors (80.6%) were classified as VEGF positive, and 28 tumors (45.2%) were positive for p53 protein. The microvessel density was 75.3 ± 33.5. A significant correlation was found between VEGF expression and both the nuclear grade (P