title: Thymidine phosphorylase/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression associated with hepatic metastasis in gastric carcinoma.
abstract: It is known that angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth and metastasis of solid tumours. Several angiogenic factors have been identified and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is thought to be one such factor. Recently, it was reported that thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) is identical to PD-ECGF. Using immunohistochemical staining with an anti-dThdPase antibody, we investigated the correlation between dThdPase expression and the microvessel density in 120 gastric carcinomas. The microvessel density, determined by immunostaining for factor VIII-related antigen, was significantly higher in dThdPase-positive tumours than in dThdPase-negative tumors. There was a significant correlation between dThdPase expression and the increment of microvessel density. Moreover, regarding distant organ metastasis, the frequency of hepatic metastasis was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in patients with dThdPase-positive tumours than in those with dThdPase-negative tumors. In summary, it was suggested that dThdPase expression is closely associated with the promotion of angiogenesis and hepatic metastasis in gastric carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takatsuka
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Onoda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sowa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase