Angiogenesis in uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

This study tested the hypothesis that increased angiogenesis in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix is an indicator of poor prognosis. We retrospectively studied 70 cases and related the microvessel count to stage and follow-up. We performed immunohistochemical staining for Factor VIII and counted the number of microvessels in a 400x field in the area of greatest density of vessels. The mean vessel count in stage I was 18.3 +/- 5.4 (26 cases), in stage II 18.0 +/- 6.8 (21 cases), in stage III 17.9 +/- 3.9 (18 cases), and in stage IV 22.2 +/- 13.6 (five cases). We found no correlation between the mean vessel count and stage (p < 0.85) or between mean vessel count and disease status on an average follow-up of 21 months (p < 0.65). With a power of approximately 70%, this study excludes the hypothesis that an increased density of microvessels is associated with a worsened prognosis in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.