Objective To quantitate vascular endothelial growth factor of cervical carcinoma and elucidate its clinical correlation.

Methods Intratumoral protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor were measured in 104 cervical cancer patients and in 30 cervical tissue specimens of benign gynecologic diseases as controls. The concentrations were correlated with clinical and pathologic characteristics.

Results The median concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor in cervical cancer tissues were higher than those in benign cervical tissues (180.0 versus 0.0 pg/mg of protein, P<. 001). Tumors larger than 4 cm (1030.0 versus 118.0 pg/mg of protein, P<. 001) and with deep stromal invasion (364.0 versus 111.0 pg/mg of protein, P=. 016) had higher levels than those smaller than 4 cm or with superficial stromal invasion. Higher levels were also found in tumors with lymphovascular emboli (568.0 versus 118.0 pg/mg of protein, P=. 006), parametrial invasion (582.0 versus 117.0 pg/mg of protein, P=. 04), and pelvic lymph node metastasis (759.5 versus 121.0 pg/mg of protein, P=. 002) than in those without. The protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor correlated positively with tumor sizes (r= 0.340, P<. 001). Tumors with overexpressed VEGF were larger (3.35±1.17 versus 2.13±1.28 cm, P<. 001) and had higher incidence of deep stromal invasion (20 of 57 versus 6 of 47, P=. 009), lymphovascular emboli (15 of 33 versus 11 of 71, P=. 011), parametrial invasion (15 of 32 versus 11 of 72, P=. 002), and lymph node metastasis (10 of 20 versus 16 of 84, P=. 004).

Conclusion Intratumoral protein level of vascular endothelial growth factor in cervical cancer tissue correlates well with local tumor progression and tumor metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor might be a marker for evaluating disease severity.