The expression and cellular localization of phosphorylated VEGFR2 in lymphoma and non-neoplastic lymphadenopathy: an immunohistochemical study

Aims: To study the expression of phosphorylated vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), a membrane-bound tyrosine kinase receptor to vascular endothelial growth factor, in lymphoma and non-neoplastic lymphadenopathy. Methods and results: Archival cases (89 cases of lymphoma and 17 cases of non-neoplastic lymphadenopathy) were studied immunohistochemically with three monoclonal antibodies to the different autophosphorylation sites in the cytoplasmic tail of the receptor. There was increased expression of this receptor in lymphoma and particularly in all cases of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. In this category, there was nuclear re-location of this receptor. Conclusions: This very interesting finding raises the possibility that VEGFR2 may be involved in the transcriptional regulation of this disease. Small molecule inhibitors to this receptor may therefore be a useful adjunct in the therapy of this disease.