title: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C and -D expression correlates with lymph node micrometastasis in pN0 early gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF)-C and -D play an important role in lymphangiogenesis, and the expressions of these factors are related to lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis in various malignant neoplasms. The present study investigates the expression of VEGF-C and -D in early gastric cancer and analyzes its relationship to lymph node micrometastasis determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 1,828 lymph nodes obtained from 80 patients with node-negative early gastric cancer. All dissected lymph nodes were examined by RT-PCR for CEA mRNA in addition to hematoxylin-eosin staining. The resected primary specimens were immunostained using anti-VEGF-C and -D polyclonal antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of lymph node micrometastasis determined by RT-PCR was 23.8% (19/80). The high expression of VEGF-C and -D was found in 27.5% (22/80) and in 21.3% (17/80), respectively. The expression of VEGF-C and -D was closely related to lymph node micrometastasis (P = 0.0390 and 0.0213, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated a close relationship between micrometastasis and VEGF-C and -D expression of the primary tumor. Thus, levels of VEGF-C and -D expression might be useful for predicting micrometastasis in patients with early gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology and Digestive Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan. arigami@m.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arigami
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Natsugoe
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uenosono
authors.forename: Shigehiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yanagita
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ehi
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mataki
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakajo
authors.forename: Sumiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishigami
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aikou
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467486:VEGFC protein, human; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D