Expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase in human gallbladder lesions.
The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of platelet-derived endothelial growth factor (PD-ECGF) in human gallbladder carcinomas to elucidate its role in angiogenesis and tumour progression. To this end, 56 archival surgical specimens of gallbladder lesions were examined for PD-ECGF/thymidine phosphorylase (TP) expression by immunohistochemistry and the PD-ECGF/TP protein level was assessed in five fresh specimens of gallbladder carcinoma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hyperplastic epithelial cells and adenoma cells showed no or faint staining with PD-ECGF/TP. Out of 43 gallbladder carcinomas, 27 (63%) showed moderate to strong immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm and nuclei of the tumour cells. PD-ECGF/TP immunoreactivity in stromal infiltrating cells was detected in 43% (3/7) hyperplasias, 17% (1/6) adenomas and 86% (37/43) carcinomas. PD-ECGF/TP protein levels in carcinoma tissues were higher than those in corresponding normal mucosa. PD-ECGF/TP expression did not correlate with angiogenesis, but significantly correlated with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and tumour stage. These results overall suggest that PD-ECGF/TP produced by both cancer cells and infiltrating cells is associated with tumour progression in human gallbladder carcinoma.
Yamamoto
S
S
First Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan.
Kitadai
Y
Y
Tsuchida
A
A
Sasaki
T
T
Matsubara
K
K
Kajiyama
G
G
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000378:metabolism*
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase