title: Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor-D expression and VEGFR-3-positive vessel density with lymph node metastasis in gastric carcinoma.
abstract: Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) is a lymphangiogenic growth factor that activates VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3, a receptor expressed in the lymphatic endothelium. We investigated the clinical value of VEGF-D expression and VEGFR-3 positive vessel density in gastric carcinoma with regard to lymphangiogenesis. Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the expression of VEGF-D and VEGFR- 3 in specimens from 104 cases of resected gastric cancer. VEGF-D expression was observed in 62.5% of the gastric cancers and in 9.6% of the non-neoplastic gastric tissue. The VEGFR-3-positive vessel density was significantly greater in the VEGFD positive group than the negative group. VEGF-D expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, increased serum CEA levels, and the nonsignet ring cell type. The VEGFR-3-positive vessel density was correlated with tumor size, lymphatic invasion, and lymph node metastasis. The VEGF-D expression and high VEGFR-3-positive vessel density were significant poor prognostic factors for relapse-free survival. These results suggest that VEGF-D and VEGFR-3-positive vessel density are potential molecular markers that predict lymphatic involvement in gastric carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. jhcmd@hanyang.ac.kr
authors.forename: Jung-Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young-Ha
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Yong-Wook
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hong-Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.forename: Young-Yiul
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: In-Soon
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kim