[Liver metastasis in colorectal cancer and tumor angiogenesis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between tumor angiogenetic activity and metastatic potential of colorectal cancer (CRC) retrospectively.


METHODS
The microvessel density (MVD) and the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression were examined immunohistochemically from 61 specimens obtained by surgical resection of CRC.


RESULTS
MVD was (27.0 +/- 8.4) and the expression of VEGF was (59.75 +/- 12.36)%. Both were significantly higher in the group of liver metastasis, and in the group of lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Survival analysis indicated a significant difference between increasing MVD group and the control group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-mediated angiogenesis plays an important role in liver metastasis of CRC, and MVD appears to be a new prognostic factor for the prediction of outcome in patients with CRC.
Xie
Z
Z
Department of Surgery, Institute of Cancer Research, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100036.
Huang
X
X
Li
J
J
Zhou
L
L
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A