Vasoactive intestinal peptide and its relationship to tumor stage in colorectal carcinoma: an immunohistochemical study.
BACKGROUND
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is considered to influence cellular proliferation through its action on adenylate cyclase. This study examined VIP in the tumor-neighboring mucosa (TM) and remote normal mucosa (RM) in patients with colorectal carcinoma, and explored its relationship to tumor stage.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining of VIP, using the avidinbiotin peroxidase complex technique, was performed on TM and RM from 55 patients, surgically resected colorectal carcinomas. The VIP immunoreactivity in the lamina propria (LP) of TM and RM was semiquantitatively graded, according to the density of VIP immunoreactive fibrous strands, and correlated with clinical characteristics, pathological findings, and tumor stage.


RESULTS
VIP immunoreactivity in the LP of TM and RM was found mainly as fibrous strands, some of which were nerve fibers. A few pericryptal myofibroblasts also showed VIP immunoreactivity. The VIP immunoreactivity in the LP was significantly greater in TM than in RM. The VIP immunoreactivity in the LP of TM was marginally greater in lesions with distant metastasis. The VIP immunoreactivity in the LP of RM was significantly greater in lesions with deeper wall penetration, in those with lymph node metastasis, and in those at more advanced stages.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest a possible trophic role of VIP in the progression of colorectal carcinoma, or enhanced VIP secretion secondary to or in parallel with the progression of carcinoma.
Hirayasu
Yoshihiro
Y
Department of Surgery, Koshigaya Hospital, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Saitama, Japan.
Oya
Masatoshi
M
Okuyama
Takashi
T
Kiumi
Fumimasa
F
Ueda
Yoshihiko
Y
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015588:Observer Variation; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*
D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide