BACKGROUNDTo explore the correlation of microvessel density (MVD) and microvessel structure (MVS) features with the patients' prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSAnti-Von Willebrand factor antibody was used to stain microvessel endothelia by means of LsAB immunohistochemical technique, then the microvessel count and structure features were observed microscopically in 49 primary NSCLC tissues. MVS pattern A had scattered microvessels with relatively integral or thick wall and with relatively regular morphology and MVS pattern B had plexiform or network like microvessels with unintegral or thin wall and with irregular morphology.

RESULTSMVD in primary NSCLC tissues was closely correlated with pTNM stage or lymph node involvement, P=0.043 and P=0.038, respectively. MVS in primary NSCLC tissues was closely correlated with the size of primary carcinoma, P=0.002. The survival of patients (23.2± 18.4 months) with MVD > 52/200× was significantly shorter than that of patients (35.9±20.9 months) with MVD < 52/200× in primary NSCLC tisssues, P=0.01. The survival of patients with MVS pattern A (39.4±17.2 months) was significantly longer than that of patients with MVS pattern B (23.5±20.3 months) in primary NSCLC tisssues, P=0.008. The survival of patients with MVD < 52/200× and MVS pattern A (42.9±19.3 months) was significantly longer than that of patients with MVD > 52/200× and MVS pattern B (15.7±16.8 months) in primary NSCLC tissues, P=0.002.

CONCLUSIONSMVD and MVS are closely associated with prognosis of NSCLC patients and might be served as parameters estimating patients' prognosis and planning assistant therapy after operation.