Relationship of adrenomedullin expression and microvessel density and prognosis in smooth muscle tumor of uterus

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to investigate the relationship between the expression of adrenomedullin (ADM) and microvessel density (MVD) and prognosis in smooth muscle tumor of uterus. The expression of ADM was detected using immunohistochemical staining in specimens from 15 normal controls, 28 cases of uterine leiomyoma (LE) and 19 cases of uterine leiomyosarcoma (LES). The MVD was assayed by immunostainting with CD₃₄. There was a positive correlation between the ADM expression and MVD in LE and LES respectively (r_s = 0.823, P<0.01; r_s = 0.793, P<0.01). The expression of ADM in LE was statistically lower than that in LES (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the ADM expression and mitotic figures in LES (P<0.05): the more mitotic figures, the higher levels of the ADM expression and poor prognosis. The ADM is an important angiogenic factor in smooth muscle tumor of uterus. The ADM can be used as an accessory marker in estimating the malignant potency of LE and judging the pro gnosis of LES, and as a novel molecular target of anti-angiogenic and anticarcinogenic strategies.