Vascular endothelial growth factor as an age-dependent prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
We investigated whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in maintaining constant tumor growth in wasted elderly patients, in whom oxygen and glucose supply are often unable to meet the demands of the body.


METHODS
Tissue concentrations of VEGF in 70 gastric carcinomas and 70 normal mucosas were determined. The expression of VEGF was evaluated immunohistochemically.


RESULTS
The net balance between the concentration of VEGF in the cancer and normal mucosa (VEGF Ca/N ratio: the cancer tissue VEGF concentration divided by normal mucosa VEGF concentration) increased with age and was associated with disease progression only in elderly patients. VEGF Ca/N ratio increased in response to systemic hypo-oxygenation and nutritional depletion only in elderly patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The systemic-local regulating mechanism of VEGF production may play an important role in the constant growth of tumor cells, especially in elderly gastric cancer patients.
Minato
Eiji
E
Second Department of Surgery, Mie University School of Medicine, Edobashi 2-174, Tsu, 514-8507, Mie, Japan.
Miki
Chikao
C
Tanaka
Kouji
K
Kobayashi
Minako
M
Mohri
Yasuhiko
Y
Tonouchi
Hitoshi
H
Kuribayashi
Kagemasa
K
Kusunoki
Masato
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors