[The effect of ectopic HCG on microvessel density in gastric carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of ectopic HCG on microvessel density in gastric carcinoma using immunohistochemical staining with anti-beta-HCG polyclonal antibody and anti-factor VIII related antigen(FVIII RAg)antibody.


METHODS
A total of 40 specimens resected from patients with gastric carcinoma was investigated by immunohistochemical staining with a anti-beta-HCG polyclonal antibody and a monoclonal antibody against FVIII RAg. The expression of beta-HCG and the microvessel density(the average number of microvessel in three areas of highest vascular density at 400 x magnification) in various regions of the histologic specimens were studied.


RESULTS
Fifteen (37.5%) of the 40 gastric carcinomas was positive for beta-HCG protein in tumor tissue. beta-HCG protein was negative in the tumor-adjacent and in normal tissue. The mean microvessel density was 27.4 +/- 7.1 in the tumor, 11.9 +/- 5.4 in tumor-adjacent and 4.8 +/- 1.5 in normal tissues (P < 0.05-0.01). There was a close correlation with beta-HCG positivity and microvessel density (MVD). There was no correlation between the degree of tumor cell differentiation and beta-HCG expression, nor was a correlation between it and MVD. High expression level of beta-HCG and MVD was significantly associated with hematogenous metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Ectopic HCG expression may have angiogenic effect which, in turn, may facilitate hematogenous dissemination of gastric cancer.
Department of Gastroenterology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu.
W
W
Zhang
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H
Yang
S
S
Han
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human