Original article
English
Ali F. Hashim 1, As’ad A. Al-Janabi 1, Liwaa H. Mahdi 1, Kaswer M. Al-Toriahi 1 and Akeel Yasseen 1,2*
1-Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq; 2-School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK
Libyan J Med 2010, 5: 5059 – DOI: 10.3402/ljm.v5i0.5059
Abstract
Background: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the seventh-most common malignancy and is the main cause of death in Iraq. The incidence of this cancer has increased sharply after the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Aim: To estimate immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in CRC in relation to other parameters, such as grade and stage of tumour. Methods: Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks from 52 patients (27 male and 25 female) with CRC were included in this study. A group of 22 patients with non-cancerous colonic tissues were included as a control group. Avidin-biotin complex method was employed for immunohistochemical detection of VEGF. Results: VEGF immuno-expression was positive in 51.9% of CRC, while it was 18.2% in the normal colonic tissue (p<0.05). VEGF immunostaining was positively correlated with grade of colonic malignancy (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings provide further evidence for the role of VEGF in the carcinogenesis of CRC. However, VEGF could not be well correlated with stage of tumour and hence may be a poor prognostic parameter of state of malignancy of colonic carcinoma. Keywords: colorectal carcinoma; VEGF; immunohistochemistry Link/DOI: http://www.libyanjournalofmedicine.net/index.php/ljm/article/view/5059/5552