Abstract

There is much evidence about importance of angiogenesis in developmentand progression of solid tumors. The role of angiogenesis, as anindicator of higher malignant potential in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,is not clear at the moment. Morphometric characteristics of microvessels inlymph node sections, in previously untreated patients with small lymphocyticlymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia (SLL/CLL) and diffuse large B-celllymphoma (DLBCL), were studied and relationship between angiogenesisand histological malignancy grade of NHL was also evaluated. Lymph nodebiopsies samples of 30 newly diagnosed patients with SLL/CLL (n= 30) andDLBCL (n = 30) were studied. All samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalinsolution and embedded in paraffin. Microvessels were visualized byimmunohistochemical staining for anti F-8 antibody. In the area showingthe most intense vascularization (i.e. the “hot spot”), microvessel density(MVD), total vascular area (TVA), as well as the size related parameterswere estimated, by using image analysis program“analysSIS”. Number andsize-related microvessels angiogenic morphometric parameters were statisticallyhigher in group with DLBCL compared with SLL/CLL: MVD (p=0.002),TVA (p

Key words: angiogenesis, NHL, morphometry, DLBCL,SLL/CLL.