OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of VEGF in prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), their clinical significance and their relationship with that of ET-1.

METHODSA total of 44 specimens of PCa and 36 of BPH tissues were examined by the immunohistochemical Elivision plus method for the expressions of VEGF and ET-1. The intensity of staining for VEGF and ET-1 was assessed by light microscopy on a scale from "-" to "+ + +".

RESULTSThe rates of positive expression of VEGF were 69.4% in BPH and 80.9% in PCa, positive staining mostly in the cytoplasm of glandular epithelia and cancer cells, and strongly positive in all the stroma vascular endothelial cells. The staining intensity of VEGF was significantly higher in the PCa than in the BPH group (P < 0.05) , in the bone metastasis (BM) than in the non-BM group (P < 0.01), and in the lowly than in the highly and moderately differentiated PCa tissues (P < 0.01). The expression of VEGF was positively correlated with that of ET-1 ( r(s) = 0.780, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONVEGF is involved in the development, progression and metastasis of PCa. VEGF and ET-1 may play a joint role in its development and progression.