EP290 Epidermal and endothelial growth factors are associated with growth pattern of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix

Introduction/Background The disease course, tumor progression and the response to certain types of treatment in patients with similar clinical stages and morphological forms of cancer often vary. The biological aggressiveness of the primary tumor can be assessed by examining its proliferative activity, apoptosis activity and the state of the main regulatory systems. The purpose of the study was a comparative analysis of VEGF-A, VEGF-D and EGF in cervical tissues in exophytic and endophytic growth patterns of cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Methodology Cervical tissues were obtained during surgery from 29 patients, mean age 51.5±1.7 years, with histologically verified non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix T1b-2aN0M0 (endophytic n=9, exophytic n=20). The levels of growth factors (VEGF-A, VEGF-D, EGF) were determined by ELISA using standard test systems (BenderMedSystem, Austria; R&D System, USA). Results VEGF-A levels in endophytic tumors were 27.6 times lower than in exophytic tumors, i.e. the latter were characterized with VEGF-A overexpression. The lymphangiogenic growth factor VEGF-D was increased in endophytic tumors by 25.3% (p Conclusion The expression of EGF and hyperactivation of an angiogenic component VEGF-A were typical of the exophytic growth pattern of cervical squamous cell carcinoma, while the endophytic growth was characterized by the VEGF-D activation accompanied by a moderate stimulation of the angiogenic signaling system (VEGF-A). The study showed fundamental differences in the involvement of growth factors in the formation of the growth pattern of cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.