The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in port-wine stains
Accepted for presentation in the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head Neck Surgery Annual Meeting, September 21-24, 2008, Chicago, IL.
Received 14 May 2008; received in revised form 2 July 2008; accepted 10 July 2008.
Objective
To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGF-R2) in port-wine stains (PWSs).
Design
An immunohistochemistry (IHC) study on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens.
Methods
Representative sections from surgical resection specimens of 12 PWS patients and 12 control specimens stained with routine IHC by using polyclonal anti-VEGF and anti–VEGF-R2 antibodies. Slides were evaluated semiquantitatively for the intensity of staining for VEGF and VEGF-R2 by using a scoring system varying from 0 to 3+.
Results
PWS specimens showed statistically significant overexpression of both VEGF and VEGF-R2 molecules when compared with control specimens (P < 0.005).
Conclusions
VEGF and its receptor may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PWS. It is possible that PWS may progress by hyperplasia in addition to hypertrophy. VEGF-R blockade may have a potential role as a targeted approach in the treatment of this disfiguring condition in the future.
aDepartment of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and Department of Pathology, John McClellan VA Hospital, Little Rock, AR
bDepartment of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and Department of Pathology, John McClellan VA Hospital, Little Rock, AR
Corresponding author: Dr Emre Vural, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Slot 543, Little Rock, AR 72205
ABSTRACT