Expression of vascular endothelial growth factors A and C in human pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and VEGF-C and to determine whether the presence of VEGF-A and VEGF-C was associated with the clinicopathologic characteristics of pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
VEGF-A and VEGF-C mRNA transcripts were examined by Northern blot in 6 human pancreatic cancer cell lines and 8 normal pancreatic tissues and 8 pancreatic carcinoma specimens. The expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C proteins was examined by Western blot in the tested cell lines and by immunohistochemical stain in 50 pancreatic carcinoma samples.


RESULTS
VEGF-A and VEGF-C mRNA transcripts were present in all the 6 human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Immunoblotting revealed the presence of VEGF-A and VEGF-C proteins in all the cell lines. Northern blot analysis of total RNA revealed 3.0-fold and 3.6-fold increase in VEGF-A and VEGF-C mRNA transcript in the cancer samples, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in cancer cells within the tumor mass. Immunohistochemical analysis of 50 pancreatic cancer tissue samples revealed the presence of VEGF-A and VEGF-C immunoreactivity in 50% and 80% of the cancer tissue samples, respectively. The presence of VEGF-A in these cells was associated with larger tumor size and enhanced local spread (c2 = 6.690, P = 0.035<0.05) but was not associated with decreased patient survival. However, the presence of VEGF-C in the cancer cells was associated with increased lymph node metastasis (c2 = 5.710, P = 0.017 < 0.05), but was not associated with decreased patient survival. There was no correlation between the expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in the same cancer cells.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-A and VEGF-C are commonly overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer and may contribute to tumor growth and lymph node metastasis. There is no relationship between the expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in pancreatic cancer.
Tang
Rui-Feng
RF
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, 4th Hospital, Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Lu, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei Province, China. tangreifeng@163.com
Wang
Shu-Xia
SX
Peng
Li
L
Wang
Shun-Xiang
SX
Zhang
Meng
M
Li
Zhi-Feng
ZF
Zhang
Zhi-Ming
ZM
Xiao
Yan
Y
Zhang
Feng-Rui
FR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C