title: Expression of CD44v3, erythropoietin and VEGF-C in gastric adenocarcinomas: correlations with clinicopathological features.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of CD44v3 and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) in gastric adenocarcinoma and the correlation with erythropoietin (EPO) and clinicopathological features.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of CD44v3, VEGF-C and EPO was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining in 169 gastric adenocarcinomas. The correlations between these parameters and patients' clinicopathological features were analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD44v3 and VEGF-C were positive in 50 (29.6%) and 82 (48.5%) patients, respectively. High CD44v3 expression was associated with poor cellular differentiation, extensive lymph node metastasis and advanced stage of gastric adenocarcinoma (P <0.05). High VEGF-C expression was significantly correlated with Lauren type, extensive lymph node metastasis and advanced stage of gastric adenocarcinoma (P <0.05). Univariate analysis of survival demonstrated that patients with a strong CD44v3 immunoreaction had a significantly worse overall survival compared with patients showing a weak CD44v3 immunoreaction (log-rank test: P = 0.0449). The mean survival time of patients with low CD44v3 expression was 30.6 months, which was much longer than the 21.6 months in patients with high expression. In addition, a strong association between immunohistochemical expression of CD44v3 and EPO was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased expression of CD44v3 and VEGF-C may play a significant role in the carcinogenesis and progression of gastric adenocarcinoma. High CD44v3 expression may be a predictor of poor prognosis in gastric adenocarcinoma patients. We infer that some mechanisms may exist in regulating the expression of CD44v3 and EPO.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Hai-Gang
authors: HG
authors: Li
authors: Jian-Ming
authors: JM
authors: Wen
authors: Ting-Sheng
authors: TS
authors: Peng
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Zeng
authors: Ling-Yun
authors: LY
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C121450:CD44V3,8-10; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D004921:Erythropoietin