Vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor correlate with angiogenesis and survival in pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (Flt) protein expression was immunologically studied individually and in combination with the microvascular density (MVD) determined by the factor 8-related antigen (F8RA) and their prognostic value in 118 patients with a pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The presence of VEGF and Flt was associated with the MVD and prognosis. A reduced expression of both of VEGF and Flt correlated with less tumor angiogenesis and a better prognosis. Our findings suggest that VEGF and Flt expressions play an important role in tumor angiogenesis and that the VEGF and Flt coexpression promotes angiogenesis and metastasis in pulmonary adenocarcinoma.