Expression Determines Neoangiogenesis in Gallbladder Carcinomas

Neoangiogenesis may have an important role in the poor prognosis of gallbladder carcinoma. An enhanced expression of COX- was found in precancerous lesions and in gallbladder carcinoma, likely to be involved in carcinogenesis as well as in angiogenesis. To study the relationships between the COX- expression and degree of vascularization, as well as to evaluate their role in the prognosis of patients with gallbladder carcinoma.  cases of gallbladder adenocarcinoma were included, classifi ed grading I-III according the WHO classifi cation. Th e COX- and endothelial antigen CD expressions were assessed immunohistochemically. COX- expression was evaluated according to the percentage and staining intensity of positive cells into “COX- positive” and “COX- negative” groups. In order to assess tumor microvessel density (MVD), CD positively stained microvessels were counted for each specimen in predominantly vascular areas (hot spots) at x magnifi cation. Th e MVD ranged from  to  microvessels/fi eld.  tumors belonged to the hypervascular group (MVD ≥ ) and  to the hypovascular group. Th ere were  (,) COX- positive cases. Th ere was diff erence in the degree of angiogenesis between COX- positive vs. COX- negative group:  (,) out of  “COX- positive” tumors were hypervascular, in comparison with just  (,) of “COX negative” tumors. Our data show that the MVD corresponds to the COX- overexpression in gallbladder carcinomas. Augmented tumor neovascularization induced by COX- might be responsible for the poor prognosis in gallbladder carcinoma patients.