Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors VEGFR-1 and 2 in gastrointestinal stromal tumors, leiomyomas and schwannomas.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors VEGFR-1 and 2 in the growth and differentiation of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).


METHODS
Thirty-three GISTs, 15 leiomyomas and 6 schwannomas were examined by immunohistochemistry in this study.


RESULTS
VEGF protein was expressed in the cytoplasm of tumor cells, and VEGFR-1 and 2 were expressed both in the cytoplasm and on the membrane of all tumors. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that 26 GISTs (78.8%), 9 leiomyomas (60.0%) and 3 schwannomas (50.0%) were positive for VEGF; 24 GISTs (72.7%), 12 leiomyomas (80.0%) and 4 schwannomas (66.7%) were positive for VEGFR-1; 30 GISTs (90.9%), 5 leiomyomas (33.3%) and 4 schwannomas (66.7%) were positive for VEGFR-2. VEGFR-2 expression was statistically different between GISTs and leiomyomas (P < 0.0001). However, there was no correlation between the expression of VEGF pathway componenets and the clinical risk categories.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the VEGF pathway may play an important role in the differentiation of GISTs, leiomyomas and schwannomas.
Nakayama
Toshiyuki
T
Department of Tumor and Diagnostic Pathology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan. toshi-n@nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Cho
Yang-Cheul
YC
Mine
Yuka
Y
Yoshizaki
Ayumi
A
Naito
Shinji
S
Wen
Chun-Yang
CY
Sekine
Ichiro
I
D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000502:physiology*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000502:physiology*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2