OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlations of microvessel density (MVD), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thrombospodin1 (TSP1) and p53 protein with prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODSSamples from 57 patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer were examined by immunohistochemical staining using anti-VEGF, anti-TSP1, anti-p53 and anti-CD34 antibodies. The correlation of MVD, expression of VEGF, TSP1 and p53 protein with postoperative recurrence and overall survival were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSVEGF, TSP1 and p53 protein was positively detected in 40 (70.2%), 27 (47.4%) and 35 (61.4%) of those patients, respectively. The mean MVD in this series was 30.3 +/- 8.5. High MVD, positive VEGF expression and negative TSP1 expression were positively correlated with postoperative recurrence. Univariate analysis showed that patients with high MVD, positive expression of VEGF and p53 had shorter median overall survival time than those with lower MVD, negative expression of VEGF and p53 (P = 0.0187, P = 0.010 and P = 0.005, respectively), while TSP1 expression was revealed as a protective factor for prognosis. Patients with positive expression of TSP1 had longer median overall survival time than those with negative TSP1 expression (P = 0.042). Multivariate analysis showed that MVD and p53 expression were two independent prognostic factors in epithelial ovarian cancer (P = 0.018 and P = 0.009, respectively).

CONCLUSIONVEGF, TSP1 and p53 protein may play an important role in the angiogenesis of epithelial ovarian cancer. High MVD level and p53 protein expression are two independent poor prognostic factors.