Evaluation of vascular endothelial growth factor and cyclooxygenase 2 expression in primary epithelial ovarian carcinoma-immunohistochemical study

Abstract

Background Little is documented on the relation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) in primary epithelial ovarian carcinoma and their correlation with clinical parameters and relation to prognosis. Aim The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of VEGF and COX-2 in primary epithelial ovarian carcinoma and to assess their expression with the clinicopathologic and prognostic parameters of the tumors. Materials and methods The material of this study consisted of 50 cases of epithelial ovarian carcinomas. All specimens were received fixed in formalin and routinely processed. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections from all cases were re-evaluated and further stained immunohistochemically using antibodies of VEGF and COX-2. Results Positive/high expression of both VEGF and COX-2 expression in epithelial ovarian carcinoma had an obvious association with tumor grade and stage. Conclusion The positive direct relation of both VEGF and COX-2 with high grade and high stage of epithelial ovarian carcinomas may help to more accurately predict high-risk progression patients, and they have the potential to be of prognostic value in patient target therapy.