Expression of CD34, PCNA and VEGF in CIN-3 and Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cervix: A Pilot Study

Purpose Although the role of classical (clinico-pathological features) and modern prognostic factors (immune biomarkers) has been described in pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma cervix (SCCC), the role of VEGF and PCNA-positive endothelial cells in CD34 expressing blood vessels has been a subje...
Ausführliche Beschreibung

Purpose Although the role of classical (clinico-pathological features) and modern prognostic factors (immune biomarkers) has been described in pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma cervix (SCCC), the role of VEGF and PCNA-positive endothelial cells in CD34 expressing blood vessels has been a subject of great interest and has not been validated yet. So, the present pilot study was aimed to study the expression of VEGF and PCNA-positive cells in CD34 positive blood vessels in “cervical intraepithelial lesion-3” (CIN-3) and “invasive” areas of SCCC. It was a cross-sectional observational pilot study. Methods In this study, 100 hysterectomy specimens done for SCCC were screened. Immunohistochemical expression of VEGF and PCNA-positive endothelial cells in CD34 expressing blood vessels was studied on 21 cases which showed both CIN-3 and invasive areas. Results In “invasive” areas, epithelial component had higher expression of VEGF with 61.9% and 38.1% cases showing grades 2 and 3 staining, respectively. 100% stromal component showed grade 1 in “CIN-3” areas, and 90.4% showed grade 2 in invasive cases. In case of VEGF expression in “CIN-3” compartment, epithelial compartment had grade I in 57.1% cases and grade II expression in 42.9% cases. PCNA expression was up to grade 1 in most “CIN-3” areas, whereas higher grades (2 or 3) were seen in “invasive” compartments. Conclusion VEGF expression is more in “invasive” front of the tumour. The tumour parenchyma rather than the tumour stroma is responsible for neovascularisation. The vessels at the periphery on “invasive” front of tumour proliferate more. Ausführliche Beschreibung