title: Vascular endothelial growth factor as an age-dependent prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Mie University School of Medicine, Edobashi 2-174, Tsu, 514-8507, Mie, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Minato
authors.forename: Chikao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Minako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mohri
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tonouchi
authors.forename: Kagemasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuribayashi
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusunoki
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors