title: Mast Cells Positive to Tryptase and c-Kit Receptor Expressing Cells Correlates with Angiogenesis in Gastric Cancer Patients Surgically Treated.
abstract: Background. Angiogenesis is a complex process involved in both growth and progression of several human and animal tumours. Tryptase is a serin protease stored in mast cells granules, which plays a role in tumour angiogenesis. Mast cells (MCs) can release tryptase following c-Kit receptor (c-KitR) activation. Method. In a series of 25 gastric cancer patients with stage T3N2-3M0 (by AJCC for Gastric Cancer 7th Edition), immunohistochemistry and image analysis methods were employed to evaluate in the tumour tissue the correlation between the number of mast cells positive to tryptase (MCPT), c-KitR expressing cells (c-KitR-EC), and microvascular density (MVD). Results. Data demonstrated a positive correlation between MCPT, c-KitR-EC, and MVD to each other. In tumour tissue the mean number of MCPT was 15, the mean number of c-KitR-EC was 20, and the mean number of MVD was 20. The Pearson test correlating MCPT and MVD, c-KitR-EC and MVD was significantly (r = 0.64, P = 0.001; r = 0.66, P = 0.041, resp.). Conclusion. In this pilot study, we suggest that MCPT and c-KitR-EC play a role in gastric cancer angiogenesis, so we think that several c-KitR or tryptase inhibitors such as gabexate mesilate and nafamostat mesilate might be evaluated in clinical trials as a new antiangiogenetic approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgery Science, Clinical Surgery Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ammendola
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgery Science, Clinical Surgery Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgery Science, Clinical Surgery Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sammarco
authors.affiliation: Health Science Department, Pathology Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.affiliation: Health Science Department, Pathology Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zuccalà
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgery Science, Clinical Surgery Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgery Science, Cardiovascular Disease Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luposella
authors.affiliation: Surgery Unit, National Cancer Research Centre, Giovanni Paolo II, 70100 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patruno
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Surgical Oncology Unit, Ospedale Morgagni-Pierantoni, 47121 Forlì, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vallicelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Surgical Oncology Unit, Ospedale Morgagni-Pierantoni, 47121 Forlì, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Verdecchia
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Surgical Oncology Unit, Ospedale Morgagni-Pierantoni, 47121 Forlì, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cavaliere
authors.affiliation: Surgery Unit, National Cancer Research Centre, Giovanni Paolo II, 70100 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Severino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montemurro
authors.affiliation: Interventional Radiology Unit with Integrated Section of Translational Medical Oncology, National Cancer Research Centre, "Giovanni Paolo II", 70100 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Girolamo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ranieri