Microvessel density and expression of thrombospondin-1 in non-small cell lung cancer and their correlation with clinicopathological features.

Microvessel density and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) expression were analysed in 42 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specimens and 40 normal lung tissue specimens using immunohistochemistry. Microvessel density was significantly higher and TSP-1 expression significantly lower in NSCLC tissue compared with normal tissue. Significantly lower levels of TSP-1 expression and higher microvessel densities were found in late-stage NSCLC compared with early-stage NSCLC, and in those with lymph node metastasis compared with those without metastasis. A statistically significant inverse correlation was observed between TSP-1 expression and microvessel density in squamous cell carcinoma but not in adenocarcinoma. These results suggest a close relationship between microvessel density and NSCLC tumour progress, and that a high expression of TSP-1 may play an important role in inhibiting tumour occurrence and development. The lack of correlation between microvessel density and TSP-1 expression in adenocarcinoma suggests that the mechanism of tumour inhibition by TSP-1 varies according to histological type.