Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Angiogenesis plays a key role in tumor growth and metastasis. The analysis of tumor vascularization by microvessel density (MVD) and its prognostic significance has been evaluated in many tumors including ovary. However, very few studies have tried to evaluate the characteristics of these vessels. This study aims to quantitatively assess the characteristics of tumor vessels with the aid of immunohistochemistry and thus, establish its role in difference in biological behavior of benign and malignant surface epithelial ovarian tumors.
METHODS: We examined 42 cases of surface epithelial ovarian tumors and divided them in two groups (14 malignant and 28 benign tumors). Both study groups were compared for smooth muscle and endothelial cells in tumor vessels using monoclonal antibodies against smooth muscle actin (SMA) and CD34 (endothelial cell marker) respectively. MVD, SMA expression index and CD34 intensity index was calculated in both groups.
RESULTS: The malignant surface epithelial ovarian tumors showed higher MVD (34.48±12.87) as compared to benign ovarian tumors (16.49±6.17) (p

Key words: Ovarian, Angiogenesis, MVD, CD34 intensity index, SMA expression index