Angiogenesis as a prognostic factor in cervical carcinoma.

Angiogenesis and other prognostic factors have been studied among 32 recurrences and 28 deaths of 420 patients with cervical carcinoma operated in the 1st Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology of Catania University. Prognostic factors were studied in comparison with a group of patients still alive and NED was followed for more than 60 months independently of stage and node involvement. Angiogenesis, nuclear grading 3, and lymphovascular invasion were factors common to all patients with negative prognosis. It seems that in the presence of these negative prognostic factors, we should adopt a more aggressive attitude in both our surgical strategies and adjuvant therapies, particularly preferring chemotherapy where angiogenesis is more significant.