Increased expression of nuclear factor-kappaB/RelA is correlated with tumor angiogenesis in human colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Recent studies have shown that nuclear factor-kappa B/RelA (NF-kappa B/RelA) is involved in tumor angiogenesis. This study examined whether NF-kappa B/RelA expression is associated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and microvessel density in human colorectal cancer.


METHODS
Ten specimens from normal colorectal mucosa and 52 colorectal adenocarcinomas were obtained by surgery or endoscopy. Immunohistochemical expression of NF-kappa B/RelA, VEGF, and CD34 was detected on paraffin-embedded tissue sections.


RESULTS
NF-kappa B/RelA and VEGF were significantly overexpressed and associated with microvessel density in colorectal cancer. A significant association was found between NF-kappa B/RelA and VEGF expression. Clinicopathological features were not correlated with NF-kappa B/RelA, VEGF expression, or microvessel density.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that increased expression of NF-kappa B/RelA contributes to tumor angiogenesis in colorectal cancer. VEGF may play an important role in mediating the NF-kappa B/RelA angiogenic pathway.
Yu
Hong-Gang
HG
Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan Univeristy, Jiefang Road 238, 430060, Wuhan, China.
Zhong
Xia
X
Yang
Yan-Ning
YN
Luo
He-Sheng
HS
Yu
Jie-Ping
JP
Meier
Juris J
JJ
Schrader
Henning
H
Bastian
Andreas
A
Schmidt
Wolfgang E
WE
Schmitz
Frank
F
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D016328:NF-kappa B; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A