Prognostic significance of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF-C in gastric carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Angiogenic factors play a major role in tumor growth and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognostic significance of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF-C in gastric carcinoma.


METHODS
Formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded sections of tumor tissue were obtained from 76 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF and VEGF-C was performed.


RESULTS
VEGF and VEGF-C were positively expressed in 39 and 45% of the patients, respectively. No correlation existed between VEGF and VEGF-C expressions. VEGF expression was significantly correlated with venous invasion. VEGF-C expression was significantly correlated with lymphatic and venous invasion. Patients with positive staining for VEGF showed a significantly lower survival rate than VEGF negative patients. After subdivision, according to the combination of VEGF and VEGF-C expression, VEGF-C expression had a significant unfavorable impact on prognosis among patients with negative staining for VEGF. The expression of VEGF and/or VEGF-C was independent prognostic determinant by the multivariate survival analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The positive expression for VEGF and/or VEGF-C was an important prognostic determinant after curative gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. VEGF-C may stimulate the tumor progression in the absence of VEGF.
Ichikura
T
T
Department of Surgery I, National Defense Medical College Hospital, Tokorozawa, Japan. ichikura@me.ndmc.ac.jp
Tomimatsu
S
S
Ohkura
E
E
Mochizuki
H
H
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors