BACKGROUND: Angiosarcomas are malignant mesenchymal neoplasms, including sarcomas of presumptive vascular endothelial origin and sarcomas of probable lymphatic origin. It is, however, often difficult to determine whether they are from blood vascular or lymphatic endothelium. The majority of angiosarcomas are thought to originate from vascular endothelia and spread via bloodstream to lung, but lymphatic metastases can occur. METHODS: We investigated immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF-A, VEGF-C) and their receptors (VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3) in a series of 34 angiosarcomas. RESULTS: VEGF-A was expressed by 32/34 (94%), VEGF-C by 4/34 (12%), VEGFR-1 by 32/34 (94%), VEGFR-2 by 22/34 (65%), and VEGFR-3 by 27/34 (79%). Patients who expressed low or no VEGFR-2 showed a significantly unfavorable prognosis by log-rank test (P = 0.010) and multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 5.16; 95% CI, 1.40-19.04; P = 0.014). VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-3 were not significantly associated with patients' prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF-A and VEGFR-1 were detected in diverse subtypes of angiosarcomas. In cooperation, VEGF-A and VEGF-C are likely to be involved in the development of angiosarcoma associated with lymphedema. VEGF-C expression may cause susceptibility to lymphatic metastasis through tumor lymphangiogenesis. Angiosarcoma of the scalp, which is traditionally considered as a true hemangiosarcoma, may include some cases of lymphatic origin. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
BACKGROUND:Angiosarcomas are malignant mesenchymal neoplasms, including sarcomas of presumptive vascular endothelial origin and sarcomas of probable lymphatic origin. It is, however, often difficult to determine whether they are from blood vascular or lymphatic endothelium. The majority of angiosarcomas are thought to originate from vascular endothelia and spread via bloodstream to lung, but lymphatic metastases can occur. METHODS: We investigated immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF-A, VEGF-C) and their receptors (VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3) in a series of 34 angiosarcomas. RESULTS: VEGF-A was expressed by 32/34 (94%), VEGF-C by 4/34 (12%), VEGFR-1 by 32/34 (94%), VEGFR-2 by 22/34 (65%), and VEGFR-3 by 27/34 (79%). Patients who expressed low or no VEGFR-2 showed a significantly unfavorable prognosis by log-rank test (P = 0.010) and multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 5.16; 95% CI, 1.40-19.04; P = 0.014). VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-3 were not significantly associated with patients' prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF-A and VEGFR-1 were detected in diverse subtypes of angiosarcomas. In cooperation, VEGF-A and VEGF-C are likely to be involved in the development of angiosarcoma associated with lymphedema. VEGF-C expression may cause susceptibility to lymphatic metastasis through tumor lymphangiogenesis. Angiosarcoma of the scalp, which is traditionally considered as a true hemangiosarcoma, may include some cases of lymphatic origin. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Authors: Sandra P D'Angelo; Rodrigo R Munhoz; Deborah Kuk; Johnathan Landa; Eliza W Hartley; Michael Bonafede; Mark A Dickson; Mrinal Gounder; Mary L Keohan; Aimee M Crago; Cristina R Antonescu; William D Tap Journal: Oncology Date: 2015-06-03 Impact factor: 2.935
Authors: Jason R Hasenstein; Kelsey Kasmerchak; Darya Buehler; Gholam Reza Hafez; Kevin Cleary; John S Moody; Kevin R Kozak Journal: Neoplasia Date: 2012-02 Impact factor: 5.715
Authors: Shih-Chiang Huang; Lei Zhang; Yun-Shao Sung; Chun-Liang Chen; Yu-Chien Kao; Narasimhan P Agaram; Samuel Singer; William D Tap; Sandra D'Angelo; Cristina R Antonescu Journal: Am J Surg Pathol Date: 2016-05 Impact factor: 6.394