Angiogenic markers endoglin and vascular endothelial growth factor in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression and potential prognostic role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endoglin in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs).


METHODS
Microvessel density (MVD) in GEP-NETs was evaluated using endoglin and CD31 immunohistochemistry. In addition, tissue levels of endoglin and VEGF were determined in homogenates by ELISA.


RESULTS
Endoglin was highly expressed on tumor endothelial cells. CD31 MVD in GEP-NETs was significantly higher compared to endoglin MVD (P < 0.01). Two- to four-fold higher tissue levels of endoglin and VEGF were seen in tumors compared to associated normal tissue. This increased endoglin tissue expression in tumors was significantly related to tumor size (P < 0.01), presence of metastases (P = 0.04), and a more advanced tumor stage (P = 0.02), whereas expression of VEGF was not.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that endoglin is a potential marker to indicate and predict metastases, which might be useful in the post-resection therapeutic approach of patients with GEP-NETs.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. p.kuiper@lumc.nl
Patricia
P
Kuiper
Lukas Jac
LJ
Hawinkels
Eveline Sm
ES
de Jonge-Muller
Izäk
I
Biemond
Cornelis Bhw
CB
Lamers
Hein W
HW
Verspaget
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D000071063:Endoglin; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism
D015703:Antigens, CD; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
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