Serum vascular endothelial growth factor and angiogenesis are related to the prognosis of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate if serum vascular endothelial growth factor (SVEGF), tissue VEGF and microvessel density (MVD) have any relation to progress and prognosis in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).


METHODS
SVEGF was examined using ELISA. VEGF and MVD were examined using immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
The median level of SVEGF was higher in GIST than in controls. A higher level of SVEGF and a positive expression rate of VEGF were obtained in diameter >or=5 cm, mitotic count >or=2/10 high power fields (HPF), recurrence and high risk groups. The MVD of experimental was higher than that of controls. A higher MVD was observed in mitotic count >or=2/10HPF and recurrence groups. The median level of SVEGF was higher in the VEGF positive group than in the controls. The SVEGF presented a relationship with MVD. Factors predicating poor prognosis were SVEGF and VEGF.


CONCLUSIONS
SVEGF and VEGF show a correlation with poor prognosis of GIST.
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, SUN Yat-Sen University, 510080 Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. tbw0531@yahoo.com.cn
T B
TB
Wang
W S
WS
Qiu
B
B
Wei
M H
MH
Deng
H B
HB
Wei
W G
WG
Dong
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A