title: VEGF-B expression in colorectal carcinomas and its relevance for tumor progression.
abstract: The biological behavior of VEGF-B, a ligand of the receptor VEGFR-1, is still enigmatic. Despite its high sequence homology to the better known angiogenetic factor VEGF-A, the function of VEGF-B has remained elusive. Especially, its role in tumor biology has thus far not been defined. In the present study we address the question of whether VEGF-B could play a role in the metastatic process of colorectal carcinomas (CRC). Using immunohistochemistry we investigated its expression in the tumor tissue of 91 non-metastatic, lymphogenous-metastatic and haematogenous-metastastic CRC. Independently of metastatic status, VEGF-B was expressed in endothelial as well as in tumor cells. 81% of the CRC showed a positive, partly focal, partly disseminated endothelial expression in intratumoral vessels and the vascular fraction throughout the invasive tumor margin. Almost all of the VEGF-B positive vessels were of blood vascular origin. Many of these were thick-walled blood vessels with atherosclerotic changes characterizing preexistent but not angiogenetic vasculature. Thus it appears that VEGF-B might be an important ligand to ensure the blood supply for tumor survival. 46% of the CRC presented an additional tumoral VEGF-B expression which significantly correlated with haematogenous metastasis (p=0.006). These morphological results provide evidence for a probable pathobiological significance of VEGF-B in the tumor progression of CRC, especially in the case of haematogenous metastasis. It appears that VEGF-B might be an important ligand in the signalling between the tumor and preexisting blood vessels to ensure a functional blood supply for tumor survival.
authors: Institut of Pathology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. c.jayasinghe@gmx.de
authors: Caren
authors: C
authors: Jayasinghe
authors: Nektaria
authors: N
authors: Simiantonaki
authors: Charles James
authors: CJ
authors: Kirkpatrick
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B