Correlation of Mast Cell Density, Tumor Angiogenesis, andClinical Outcomes in Patients with Endometrioid EndometrialCancer

Background: Tumor angiogenesis has been demonstrated in several kinds of neoplasms. There are evidencesthat mast cells can produce many kinds of chemical mediators with angiogenic properties. The specific role of mastcells in female genital tract cancer has not been well understood. The purpose of this study was to determine thecorrelation between the mast cell density, tumor angiogenesis, and clinical outcomes in patients with endometrioidadenocarcinoma of endometrium.
Methods: Histologically, four-micrometer-thick haematoxylin and eosin stainedslides of the hysterectomy specimens were evaluated. Microvessels were highlighted by CD31 immunostain andmast cells were stained by 0.1% toluidine blue. All clinicopathological characteristics were reviewed to determinetheir possible correlation to microvessel density and number of mast cells.
Results: A total of 46 patients whounderwent a complete staging surgery were eligible for this study. The median age of the patients was 55 years(range, 32-70 years). The median follow-up was 27.0 months (range 3.6-83.8). Microvessel appeared significantlyto correlate with the number of parity. The mean microvessel count was likely to be higher in women with nonmenopausalstatus (p=0.07), advanced FIGO stage (p=0.09), and lymph node metastasis (p=0.08). There was nosignificant correlation between microvessel counts, mast cell density, and disease recurrence.
Conclusion: Ourdata suggested that the number of microvessel counts and mast cell density did not affect the clinical progressionor recurrence of endometrioid endometrial cancer.