Tumor angiogenesis and thymidine phosphorylase expression in ovarian carcinomas including serous surface papillary adenocarcinoma of the peritoneum.

To clarify biological and clinical significance of tumor angiogenesis in the development of ovarian carcinoma, we investigated the relationship between tumor vascularity, the expression of thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase), which is an angiogenic factor identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), and patient outcome in ovarian carcinoma, including serous surface papillary carcinoma (SSPC). Primary tumor specimens (stages I-IV) from 54 patients were examined. Intratumoral microvessel density (IMVD) and dThdPase expression were evaluated immunohistochemically using anti-CD34 and anti-dThdPase antibodies, and results were correlated with clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis. IMVD for the 54 tumors ranged from 22.5 to 120.7 (number/0.73686 mm2/field). Twenty-three tumors were positive, and 31 tumors were negative for dThdPase expression. IMVD positively correlated with the expression of dThdPase (p < 0.01), tumor size, and peritoneal metastases (p < 0.05). However, there was no statistical correlation between IMVD, dThdPase expression, and clinical outcome. Of the 54 patients examined, 30 were diagnosed with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage III or IV primary ovarian carcinoma, and 9 were diagnosed with SSPC. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to clinicopathologic features, IMVD, dThdPase expression, or patient outcome. In conclusion, angiogenic activity may be necessary for the growth of metastatic implants in ovarian carcinoma and SSPC.