Morphologic analysis of microvessels in colorectal tumors with respect to the formation of liver metastases.
OBJECTIVE
Overexpression of VEGF and proliferation of microvessels are strongly related to liver metastases, however, morphologic analyses of microvessels in liver metastases have not been reported. The purpose of the present study was to examine the correlation between liver metastases and the diameters of microvessel lumens in the tumor tissue.


METHODS
Fifty-nine patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancers and 112 patients who underwent curative colorectal resection and survived without any recurrence were reviewed. Microvessel density (MVD) and the diameters of the lumens of individual microvessels were assessed.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in terms of the mean MVD of primary tumors between patients with liver metastases and those without liver metastases. The numbers of patients with liver metastases who had microvessels 100-200 microm in diameter and microvessels more than 200 microm in diameter were significantly greater than patients without liver metastases. Microvessels with lumens more than 100 microm in diameter were not detected in the liver metastatic lesion.


CONCLUSIONS
Large microvessels in the primary tumor favor intravasation of cancer cells.
Yamamura
T
T
Department of Surgery, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Toyoko Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan. t2yama@marianna-u.ac.jp
Tsukikawa
S
S
Yamada
K
K
Yamaguchi
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000556:secondary*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors