Korean J Pathol.  2005 Apr;39(2):99-105.

Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors A,C and D in Gastric Adenocarcinoma

• Chung MJ
• Lee JW
• Yu KH
• Yang DH
• Jang KY
• Moon WS
• Kang MJ
• Lee DG

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF-D are novel growth factors that regulate lymphatic vessel growth. This study was designed to examine whether the expression of three VEGF family members, VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D are associated with the clinicopathologic parameters, especially with lymph node metastasis, in advanced gastric carcinomas.
METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining was performed for VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D in the surgically resected specimens from 102 patients with advanced gastric carcinoma. The mRNA expressions of the three VEGF family members were assessed in 16 cases of tumor tissues and their corresponding non-neoplastic tissues.
RESULTS
Of the 102 gastric carcinomas, 74 (73%), 82 (80%), and 34 (33%) cases showed cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D, respectively. Both VEGF-A and VEGF-C expressions were associated with lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis (p<0.05), but the VEGF-D expression was not associated with them (p>0.05). In the tumor tissue, VEGF-C mRNA expression was greater, while VEGF-D mRNA expression was lower than in the nonneoplatic tissue adjacent to the tumor.
CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-A and VEGF-C may play important roles for the lymphatic spread of gastric carcinoma. We suggest that neutralizing both VEGF-A and VEGF-C may be reguired to block lymph node metastasis.

Keyword

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A; Vascular endothelial growth factor-C; Vas-cular endothelial growth factor-D, Stomach, Adenocarcinoma

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma*
Cytoplasm
Humans
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Lymph Nodes
Lymphatic Vessels
Neoplasm Metastasis
RNA, Messenger
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors*
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
RNA, Messenger
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors