Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Eph receptor A2(EphA2), matrix metalloproteinases(MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in ovarian carcinoma vasculogenic mimicry(VM). Methods Totally 84 ovarian carcinoma specimens with complete clinical and prognostic data were collected, and using CD31 and PAS double staining to confirm if vasculogenic mimicry exists in the ovarian carcinoma specimens. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect VEGF, EphA2, MMP-2 and MMP-9, examining the results of the immunohistochemical method according to the dye index. Results VEGF, EphA2 and MMP-9 in ovarian carcinoma specimens had significant differences between the VM group (36/84) and non-VM group (48/84), the expression in the VM group showed significantly higher than that in non-VM group. But the expression of MMP-2 between the two groups was not statistically significant. BR> Conclusion Vasculogenic mimicry and endothelium-derived angiogenesis are co-existed in ovarian carcinoma, VEGF, EphA2 and MMP-9 play important roles in vasculogenic mimicry. Detecting VEGF, EphA2 and MMP-9 can be used to evaluate the prognosis of ovarian carainoma. BR>

Key words: Ovarian carcinoma, Vasculogenic mimicry, Vascular endothelial growth factor, Eph receptor A2, Matrix metalloproteinase, Immunohistochemistry, Human