Abstract
Background
Angiosarcoma is an extremely rare tumor among sarcomas and comprises a heterogeneous group of high-grade vascular malignancies. Our study aimed to examine the correlations between 6 immunohistochemical biomarkers—stem cell factor receptor (KIT), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-α, PDGFR-β, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3—and overall survival (OS) in patients with angiosarcomas.
Methods
Immunohistochemical analyses for the 6 biomarkers were performed by using tumor specimens obtained from 34 patients with angiosarcomas. Correlations between biomarkers were examined by Fisher’s exact test. For each biomarker, the correlation between the immunohistochemical score and OS was examined by the log-rank test and Cox regression analysis.
Results
The percentages of angiosarcoma patients with positive expressions (immunohistochemical score > 0) of KIT, PDGFR-α, PDGFR-β, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3 were 14.7%, 11.8%, 88.2%, 61.8%, 94.1%, and 100.0%, respectively. No statistically significant correlations between any 2 biomarkers were observed. Cox regression analysis demonstrated a significant positive correlation between short OS and the immunohistochemical score for PDGFR-β and between long OS and the immunohistochemical score for VEGFR-2.
Conclusion
Increased expression of PDGFR-β may be a statistically significant prognostic factor for poor OS, while increased expression of VEGFR-2 may be a favorable prognostic factor for patients with angiosarcoma.
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Acknowledgment
This study was supported by a science research grant (21-tokushi-1) from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan. The Ministry had no involvement in the study design; the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data; the writing of the manuscript; or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. We thank Dr. Kenjiro Namikawa (Department of Dermatology, National Cancer Center Hospital), Dr. Akira Kawai and Dr. Yasuo Beppu (Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital), Taizo Hirata, Chikako Shimizu, Noriyuki Katsumata, and Kenji Tamura (Breast and Medical Oncology Division) for treating the patients.
Conflict of interest
Yasuhiro Fujiwara received research funding from Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Chugai-Pharmaceutical, Eisai, Daiichi Sankyo, Taiho Pharmaceutical, and Nihon Kayaku. The other authors declare no conflict of interest
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Yonemori, K., Tsuta, K., Ando, M. et al. Contrasting Prognostic Implications of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor-β and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 in Patients with Angiosarcoma. Ann Surg Oncol 18, 2841–2850 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-011-1640-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-011-1640-4