The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in port-wine stains

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGF-R2) in port-wine stains (PWSs). DESIGN: An immunohistochemistry (IHC) study on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens. METHODS: Representative sections from surgical resection specimens of 12 PWS patients and 12 control specimens stained with routine IHC by using polyclonal anti-VEGF and anti-VEGF-R2 antibodies. Slides were evaluated semiquantitatively for the intensity of staining for VEGF and VEGF-R2 by using a scoring system varying from 0 to 3+. RESULTS: PWS specimens showed statistically significant overexpression of both VEGF and VEGF-R2 molecules when compared with control specimens (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: VEGF and its receptor may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PWS. It is possible that PWS may progress by hyperplasia in addition to hypertrophy. VEGF-R blockade may have a potential role as a targeted approach in the treatment of this disfiguring condition in the future. (C) 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.