Distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in prostate disease.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a heparin-binding polypeptide growth factor. It is a potent mitogen for endothelial cells. Immunohistochemical localisation of VEGF was performed on 25 moderate to poorly differentiated stage T4 M+ prostate cancer specimens and 30 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) specimens. A positive result was indicated by area staining >25% and +2 or +3 staining intensity. Positive epithelial staining was observed in 50% of BPH specimens and 56% of cancer specimens, while positive stromal staining was observed in 73% of BPH specimens and 30% of cancer specimens. This may reflect an active role for stromal VEGF in the pathological process of BPH.