[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.
Zhang
W
W
Department of Gastroenterology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu.
Yang
H
H
Han
S
S
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