The role of fibroblast growth factor 2 in patients with uterine smooth muscle tumors: an immunohistochemical study.
OBJECTIVE
Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) is considered to be a potent stimulator of angiogenesis and seems therefore to play an important role in the growth of tumors. We compared the immunohistochemical profile of FGF-2 in patients with uterine leiomyomas, smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) and leiomyosarcoma (LMS). Furthermore, we tried to clarify the prognostic role of FGF-2 in uterine leiomyosarcoma.


STUDY DESIGN
FGF-2 expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry from paraffin-embedded tissue in 26 patients with leiomyoma, in 24 cases with STUMP and in 21 patients with LMS. The immunohistochemical profile of these 3 tumor entities was compared and regarding LMS correlated with different clinicopathologic parameters.


RESULTS
FGF-2 was expressed in 85% of leiomyomas, in 88% of STUMP and in 57% of LMS. Significant differences regarding the frequency of FGF-2 expression were observed between leiomyoma and LMS as well as between STUMP and LMS (p<0.05). In uterine LMS FGF-2 expression was statistically more frequent in cases with high histological grade (p<0.05). Furthermore, FGF-2 positive tumors demonstrated a statistically significant higher rate of recurrence disease and tumor progression (p=0.005). Disease free as well as overall survival was significantly shortened in patients with FGF-2 positive compared to FGF-2 negative tumors (p<0.05).


CONCLUSION
The significant correlation between FGF-2 expression and high histological grade indicates that FGF-2 might work as a negative predictive factor. Higher rates of recurrence disease as well as shortened disease free and overall survival among FGF-2 positive LMS support the potential role as prognosticator for poor clinical outcome.
['Bodner-Adler|Barbara|B|', 'Mayerhofer|Klaus|K|', 'Czerwenka|Klaus|K|', 'Kimberger|Oliver|O|', 'Koelbl|Heinz|H|', 'Bodner|Klaus|K|']
D001317:Austria D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor D015331:Cohort Studies D005260:Female D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 D005500:Follow-Up Studies D006785:Hospitals, University D006801:Humans D007044:Hysterectomy D018231:Leiomyomatosis D007890:Leiomyosarcoma D008875:Middle Aged D009215:Myometrium D060787:Neoplasm Grading D009363:Neoplasm Proteins D009367:Neoplasm Staging D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital D010052:Ovariectomy D011379:Prognosis D012189:Retrospective Studies D012489:Salpingostomy D016019:Survival Analysis D014594:Uterine Neoplasms D014599:Uterus
Uterine smooth muscle tumors FGF-2 expression Immunohistochemistry Clinicopathologic parameters Prognosis