Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Studies on the Prognostic Significance of Angiogenesis in Renal Cell Carcinoma

In the present study, evaluation of tumour angiogenesis has been carried out in a group of patients with renal cell carcinoma. The retrospective study included 97 patients for whom radical nephrectoly was carried out between 1997 and 1999 in the Urology and Nephrology Center belonging to Mansoura University, Egypt. Patients were stratified according to grade, stage, age, lymph node status, tumour size and angiogenesis. Angiogenesis was evaluated by measuring the mean microvessel density (MVD). Microvessels were immunohistochemically stained using monoclonal antibody that reacted with endothelial cells linning the wall of blood vessels and was called CD34. Microvessels were counted in active areas of angiogenesis (hot spots) under magnification of X250 and the mean of 3 counts (MVD) was used for univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. The results of the present study indicated that, evaluation of microvessel density is of no appreciable value in the assessment of prognosis for renal cell carcinoma. Tumour stage could provide more objective tool for better judgment on the patient survival and might help in choice of the more convenient therapy for the individual patient. {[}Samia, M. Sanad, Mahmoud, A. El-Baz and Mohamed, A. Erfan Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Studies on the Prognostic Significance of Angiogenesis in Renal Cell Carcinoma] Life Science Journal, 2011; 8(4):838-851] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com.