Quantitative analysis of gene expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-related factors and their receptors in renal cell carcinoma.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related factors are believed to regulate angiogenesis, an essential event in the growth of solid tumors. In this study, we investigated the expression of VEGF-related factor genes (VEGF, VEGF-B, and VEGF-C) and their receptor genes (VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). There were significant differences in the expression level of VEGF, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 between RCC and the corresponding normal renal tissue. The expression level of VEGF in the tumor tissue significantly correlated with those of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. Expression levels VEGF-B and VEGF-C genes were not significantly different between RCC and normal renal tissue. A moderate to high protein expression for VEGF, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 was observed in both the tumor cells and the endothelial cells, whereas the protein expression was low for VEGF-B and VEGF-C. The present results suggested that VEGF and its receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 cooperates to play a crucial role in the angiogenesis of RCC, while VEGF-B and VEGFR-C may not. Furthermore, since VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 proteins were expressed in the tumor cells as well as in the endothelial cells, these receptors may also be responsible for the progression of RCC.
Tsuchiya
N
N
Department of Urology, Akita University School of Medicine, Japan.
Sato
K
K
Akao
T
T
Kakinuma
H
H
Sasaki
R
R
Shimoda
N
N
Satoh
S
S
Habuchi
T
T
Ogawa
O
O
Kato
T
T
D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1