Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression with pathological renal artery changes in patients with renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to correlate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) with pathological renal artery changes in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A further aim was to correlate intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) with VEGF and HIF-1α expression and prognostic factors for RCC, including tumour necrosis.

Material and methods: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 150 patients with RCC and 50 patients with non-tumorous kidney diseases were analysed. The control group consisted of specimens from both renal arteries obtained from 25 decedents at routine autopsy (50 cases in total). Immunohistochemistry was performed using primary antibodies to VEGF, HIF-1α and CD31.

Results: Pathological renal artery changes were more common in patients with RCC and non-tumorous kidney diseases than in the control group. MVD was higher in the RCCs of patients with pathological renal artery changes. Tumours with higher HIF-1α expression had higher MVD; however, VEGF expression was not associated with MVD. A significant association was also found between MVD and the extent of tumour necrosis, in that less necrotic tumours had higher MVD. No association between renal artery changes and VEGF and HIF-1α expression was established.

Conclusion: Considering the results of this study, the evaluation of renal artery changes in forthcoming research on RCC would be helpful for several reasons: to estimate their incidence in a larger number of patients, to clarify their connection with RCC and to reveal their relationship with MVD in RCC.