Angiogenesis and p53 at the invading tumor edge: prognostic markers for colorectal cancer beyond stage.

Background: Angiogenesis has emerged as a major prognostic factor in many human malignancies and it is a prospective target for cancer therapy.

Materials And Methods: In this study, we investigated immunohistochemically the angiogenic activity and the expression of p53 and bcl-2 proteins in a series of 170 operable colorectal carcinomas, stage B and C.

Results: A high vascular density at the invading tumor front was directly related to nuclear p53 accumulation, and inversely to cytoplasmic expression of bcl-2.