The angiopoietins (Ang) are recently described as one of growth factors for vascular endothelium. This study was aimed to investigate the Ang-1 and Ang-2 mRNA expression between in cervical cancer and in normal cervix and to assess the relationships among their expression and other prognostic factors of cervical cancer.

Ang-1 and Ang-2 mRNA expression were investigated by quantative competitive PCR between in cervical cancer of 34 cases and in normal cervix of 14 cases at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from March 1998 to June 2000.

Both in cervical cancer and normal cervical tissue, 612 bp sized Ang-1 mRNA and 518 bp sized Ang-2 mRNA were expressed. In comparison to normal cervix, their expression was significantly elevated in cervical cancer (p<0.05). A definite correlation was found between Ang-1 mRNA expression and clinical stage of cervical cancer (p<0.05). There was significant correlation among Ang-2 mRNA expression and clinical stage, tumor sizes, SCC-Ag levels, lymph node metastasis of cervical cancer (p<0.05).

The expression of Ang-1 & -2 mRNA could be associated with the progression and metastasis of cervical cancer and might have a role as a prognostic parameter in cervical cancer.