16 - Role of Immunohistochemical Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 in Ovarian Cancer

This chapter discusses the role of the method of immunohistochemical (IHC) examination to identify the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family and its receptors (VGEFR). Immunohistochemical examination is a well established technique to exhibit the tissue localization of an immunoreactive antigen. Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis have an essential role in the proliferation of the vascular network to supply nutrition, oxygen, and immune cells and also to remove the waste products. The growth factor VEGF is accepted as a powerful angiogenic agent in neoplastic tissues and in normal tissues. Under the influences of some cytokines and other growth factors, the VEGF family appears in the cancer tissue and the adjacent stroma and plays an important role in making the neovascularization. In the absence of vascular support, tumors may become necrotic or even apoptotic among the family, VEGF-A, -B, and -C induce new blood-vessel proliferation and VEGF-C and VEGF-D relate to lymphangiogenesis. These growth factors act with their own VEGF receptor. High tissue expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-2 reflects the aggressiveness of the spread of tumor in the ovarian carcinoma.