title: VEGF-A and VEGF-B mRNA expression in gastro-oesophageal cancers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiogenesis is essential for the local growth, invasion and metastasis of the tumours. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) play a crucial role in tumour angiogenesis. The aim of our study was to quantify the expression of several VEGF family molecules in human gastro-oesophageal cancers and to analyse possible correlations between genes expression and clinico-pathological features.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gene expression was quantified in 43 gastro-oesophageal paired samples using qRT-PCR with TaqMan probes specific to VEGF-A, including soluble transcript variants and VEGF-B genes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF-A, including the studied splice variants and VEGF-B mRNAs were expressed in both tumour and peritumour mucosa. The expression of VEGF-A and its isoforms was higher in tumour compared with paired peritumour mucosa, while no significant difference was observed in VEGF-B expression. VEGF-A expression tended to correlate with tumour invasion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF-A has a tendency to over-express in gastro-oesophageal cancers, while VEGF-B does not seem involved in these tumours. Further studies are required to establish the utility of anti-VEGF-A therapy and to find biomarkers for pathogenesis or response to therapy in gastro-oesophageal tumours.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Genomics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Bvd. 1 Mai, No. 66, Craiova, Romania. soaremcristina@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angelescu
authors.forename: Florin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burada
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ioana
authors.forename: Radu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Angelescu
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moraru
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riza
authors.forename: Sanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marchian
authors.forename: Francisc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mixich
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruce
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Săftoiu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; C467485:VEGFB protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B