[Expression of VEGF and its significance in primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the female genital system].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its significance in primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the female genital system. METHODS: VEGF mRNA and expression of VEGF protein were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method and immunohistochemistry, respecitvely. Microvessel density (MVD) was obtained after staining of microvessels using CD34 antibody. The relationship between the expression of VEGF and MVD, clinical features and prognosis of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the female genital system patients were analyzed. RESULTS: (1) Over expression of VEGF mRNA was found in 17/20 (85.0%) by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method and the tumor cells expressed VEGF protein in 48/56 (85.7%) by immunohistochemistry; (2) The expression of VEGF was positively correlated to the MVD of the tumor (r = 0.76, P = 0.0170); (VEGF expression was correlated to clinical stages, B symptom and the serum level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (r = 0.77, P = 0.044; r = 0.58, P = 0.023; r = 0.69, P = 0.017); (4) Cox multivariate analysis demonstrated that the age of more than 60 years and the positive VEGF expression were independent prognostic factors (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: VEGF was widely expressed in the tumor cells of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the female genital system and may be related to the clinical features and prognosis of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the female genital system patients.