Vascular endothelial growth factor expression is an independent negative predictor in extrahepatic biliary tract carcinomas

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important factors for angiogenesis in various tumors. However, its clinical significance in extrahepatic biliary tract carcinoma remains unclear. Materials and Methods: To clarify the association of VEGF expression with the clinicopathological features of the disease, surgical specimens from 51 patients were examined for VEGF expression by immunohistochemistry. Results: Sixteen of 51 (31.4%) cases were positive for VEGF. VEGF immunoreactivity showed a tendency towards association with lymph node metastasis, M category and peritoneal recurrence (p = 0.059, 0.086 and 0.069, respectively). Overall survival in patients with VEGF positivity was significantly worse than in those with negativity (p = 0.033 by log-rank test). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that VEGF expression was an independent negative predictor (p = 0.025). Conclusion: VEGF immunoreactivity is an independent negative predictor in extrahepatic biliary tract carcinomas.