Is Tumour Angiogenesis a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Colorectal Cancer and No Involved Nodes?

To examine a possible association between tumour angiogenesis and conventional prognostic variables and to assess the prognostic value of the variables examined in patients with colorectal cancer, with no involved nodes.Retrospective study.University hospital, Italy.119 patients who had had colorectal cancers resected for cure with no involved nodes between 1985-1990.The three microscopic fields with the most microvessels were identified by immunohistochemical techniques. 10 high-power fields in each area were used for the microvessel count and the mean values indicated the microvessel density.Correlation of microvessel density with conventional prognostic factors, recurrence rates, and survival.There was a significant correlation between microvessel density and sex, women having a higher density than men (p0.05), but no significant correlations between density and recurrence rates or survival. Multivariate analysis did not indicate that microvessel density had a prognostic role.Microvessel density in colorectal cancer without involved nodes does not correlate with conventional prognostic factors and provides no prognostic information.