Background/aims: Neovascularization of tumor tissue has been proposed to be essential for tumor growth, proliferation and, eventually, metastasis. Although the microvessel count in some kinds of solid tumor was shown to correlate with clinical outcome, little is known about its significance in gallbladder carcinoma.
Methodology: In order to determine whether tumor angiogenesis is a prognostic factor in gallbladder carcinoma patients, microvessels in selected areas (a 200x field, 0.74 mm2) in specimens resected from 40 patients with gallbladder carcinomas were identified by immunostaining endothelial cells for the endothelial antigen CD34 and counted.
Results: Univariate analysis showed a relationship between the microvessel count and survival (p=0.04), but multivariate analysis revealed that the microvessel count was not an independent prognostic factor (p=0.256). Although it correlated with the lymph node status (p=0.044), it bore no relation to tumor status or clinical stage.
Conclusions: These results indicate that participation of neovascularization in gallbladder cancer spread is minor, especially during the early course.