Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression in mycosis fungoides. Issue 2 (10th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pileri, Alessandro; Agostinelli, Claudio; Righi, Simona; Fuligni, Fabio; Bacci, Francesco; Sabattini, Elena; Patrizi, Annalisa; Pileri, Stefano A; Piccaluga, Pier Paolo
• Is Part Of: Histopathology. Volume 66:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 173
• Page End: 181
• Publication Date: 2014-11-10
• Subjects: Histology, Pathological -- Periodicals; 611.018
• DOI: 10.1111/his.12445
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-0167

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="his12445-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="his12445-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aims</title> <p>High levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) seem to herald a worse prognosis in mycosis fungoides (MF). In this study, we aimed to characterize more clearly VEGFA gene and protein expression in MF.</p> </sec> <sec id="his12445-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods and results</title> <p>First, we compared <italic>VEGFA </italic>mRNA levels in MF and in normal T lymphocyte samples; significantly higher <italic>VEGFA</italic> levels were found in MF. We then studied <italic>VEGFA</italic> expression in different normal T cell subsets, focusing on CD4<sup>+</sup>, CD8<sup>+</sup>, resting and activated T lymphocytes. We applied the gene signatures of the normal T cell subsets to MF samples and found that activated T lymphocytes represented the closest normal counterpart of the tumour. However, <italic>VEGFA </italic>mRNA levels were significantly higher in MF than in activated normal T cells, suggesting that <italic>VEGFA</italic> overexpression in MF represents an attribute acquired during neoplastic transformation: no significant <italic>VEGFA</italic> expression differences were recorded between early and advanced stages. Gene expression profile results were supported by immunohistochemistry in routine sections from 27 MF cases.</p> </sec> <sec id="his12445-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>For the first time, we demonstrate VEGFA expression in MF cells, suggesting that the VEGF pathway may be implicated in MF pathogenesis and can represent a novel therapeutic target.</p> </sec> </abstract>