Does expression of receptor tyrosine kinases in gastric adenocarcinoma correlate with clinicopathological parameters?
OBJECTIVE
This study was initiated in order to define the (co-)expression patterns of target receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in human gastric adenocarcinoma and to correlate them with clinicopathological parameters.


METHODS
The (co-)expression pattern of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, PDGFRalpha, PDGFRbeta and EGFR1 was analyzed in 56 samples of human gastric adenocarcinoma and correlated with staging and survival.


RESULTS
VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, PDGFRalpha, PDGFRbeta and EGFR1 were expressed at relevant levels in 79%, 50%, 50%, 63%, 55% and 30%, respectively. VEGFR2, VEGFR3, and PDGFRbeta were significantly co-expressed. Thirty-four percent of gastric adenocarcinoma samples revealed a co-expression of 6 receptors, 27% expressed 5 receptors and only 23% showed expression of 3 receptors or less. Expression of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, PDGFRalpha, PDGFRbeta and EGFR1 in gastric adenocarcinoma did not significantly correlate with a higher pT-category, the presence of lymph node metastasis (pN+) or overall survival. However, a trend towards a higher pT-category was seen for expression of VEGFR1 without reaching statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
The data obtained reveal that specific RTKs are significantly co-expressed. However, co-expression of RTKs did not impact on staging or survival. It has to be further analyzed, if the expression of the respective ligands is of higher relevance than the expression of the receptor itself.
Drescher
Daniel
D
Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, Mainz 55101, Germany. drescher@ach.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Gockel
Ines
I
Timm
Stephan
S
Berger
Martin R
MR
Herzer
Kerstin
K
Schmidtmann
Irene
I
Junginger
Theodor
T
Galle
Peter R
PR
Lang
Hauke
H
Moehler
Markus
M
Schimanski
Carl C
CC
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate
D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases