title: [Expression and hypoxic regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in esophageal carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the the expression and hypoxic regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9.
  
  
  METHODS
  VEGF mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 43 esophageal carcinoma specimens including 18 para-tumorous esophageal tissues. The expression of VEGF protein and mean microvessel density (MVD) in 56 specimens were examined by immunohistochemical stain. The effect of hypoxia on VEGF and MMP-9 expression in esophageal cancer cell lines was quantitatively determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VEGF expression in the tumorous tissue, being significantly correlated with MVD in the tumor, was remarkably higher than that in the para-tumorous tissue. VEGF and MVD expression in the tumor was significantly associated with stage and metastasis of esophageal carcinoma. The MMP-9 expression in the tumorous tissue, being uncorrelated with vessel count and clinicopathologic features in esophageal carcinoma, was significantly higher than that in the para-tumorous tissue. Hypoxia significantly increased the VEGF expression in esophageal cancer cell lines but did not affect the MMP-9 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of VEGF plays an important role in the angiogenesis and metastasis of esophageal cancer, which is regulated by hypoxia. VEGF may serve as a predictor of progression in esophageal carcinoma and a potential target for antiangiogenic therapy of esophageal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
authors.forename: Wenzhong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yuliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.forename: Guiqi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zhihua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D010100:Oxygen