Relationship between VEGF and p53 expression and tumor cell proliferation in human gastrointestinal carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p53 play important roles in the growth of tumor. However, the relationship between the expression of VEGF and p53 and tumor cell proliferation in human gastrointestinal cancer remains unknown. In the present study, therefore, we have examined the relationship between VEGF and p53 expression and tumor cell proliferation in gastrointestinal carcinoma (GITC), as well as the association between these biomarkers and clinicopathological factors.


METHODS
Surgical specimens from 30 patients with GITC were examined for VEGF, p53, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression by immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
We found a predominant VEGF expression of moderate intensity in 16(54.84%) of 30 GITC cases, while p53 expression was mainly high in 13(45.16%) of 30 GITC cases. PCNA expression was high in 20(64.52%) of 30 GITC cases. Tumor size, infiltration, vascular invasion, and gastritis were significantly correlated with VEGF, p53, and PCNA expression. There was a significant correlation between VEGF and p53 expression (P = 0.0001), VEGF and PCNA expression (P = 0.00004), and between p53 expression and PCNA expression (P = 0.0016). When the VEGF and p53 expression, and PCNA expression were considered together, both VEGF and p53 expression were not significantly associated with PCNA. A significant correlation between the PCNA expression and the mitotic index (P = 0.0016) was also found.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that VEGF and p53 expression are significantly correlated as independent prognostic factors with tumor cell proliferation, and might be associated with relevant events involved in gastrointestinal tumor biology.
Montero
Elvira
E
Centro de Microscopía Electrónica "Dr. Mitsuo Ogura", Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado 76963, El Marqués 1070, Caracas, Venezuela.
Abreu
Carmen
C
Tonino
Paola
P
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A