Abstract
Unrestrained growth of various malignant tumours has been shown to depend upon a critical number of tumour cells which have switched to the angiogenic phenotype. Angiogenic phenotypes were noted in the early stage of prostatic carcinoma (PCa). We investigated 65 cases of latent PCa to define the correlation between tumour angiogenesis and tumour volume. Tumour angiogenesis was determined by the blood capillary density ratio (BCDR) evaluated by a colour image analysis system. Using experimental regression analysis, the correlation between the BCDR and PCa volume was divisible into two distinct stages. When the PCa showed a volume of more than 83 mm3, there was a significant positive correlation between the BCDR and PCa volume (rS-test P < 0.001). However, when the PCa showed a volume of less than 83 mm3, the BCDR remained at a low level which did not change until larger volumes were present (rS-test, NS; ANOVA, NS). The present study suggested that latent PCa showing a volume of less than 83 mm3 would be 'early' indolent carcinoma which, on undergoing additional events concerning tumour angiogenesis, would assume more aggressive growth.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Furusato, M., Wakui, S., Sasaki, H. et al. Tumour angiogenesis in latent prostatic carcinoma. Br J Cancer 70, 1244–1246 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1994.480
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1994.480
This article is cited by
-
Prediction of prostate cancer grade using fractal analysis of perfusion MRI: retrospective proof-of-principle study
European Radiology (2022)
-
A predictive role of neoangiogenesis and comparison with other prognostic factors
Pathology & Oncology Research (2000)