title: Clinical implications of PTEN and VEGF expression status, as well as microvessel density in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: There are limitations to the use of single biomarker levels, for example phosphate and tensin homology (PTEN) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in the diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The present study therefore aimed to evaluate the clinical implications of combined detection of multiple biomarkers. The associations between PTEN and VEGF expression status, microvessel density (MVD), and the pathological characteristics of 50 patients with ESCC were determined using χ2, analysis of variance, andt-tests. The results indicated that the PTEN-positive rate was negatively correlated with ESCC histological grade (P<0.01), depth of ESCC invasion (P<0.01) and lymph node metastasis status. Furthermore, the VEGF-positive rate was correlated with lymph node metastasis status, while MVD was correlated with the depth of ESCC invasion (P<0.01) and lymph node metastasis status (P<0.05). The PTEN-positive rate was negatively correlated with the VEGF-positive rate. A higher MVD was identified in ESCC samples than that of the normal esophageal mucosa, particularly in VEGF-positive ESCC specimens compared with those of VEGF-negative specimens, and PTEN-negative ESCC specimens compared with that of the PTEN-positive ESCC specimens. These results suggested that combined detection of PTEN and VEGF levels, as well as evaluation of MVD in patients with ESCC may provide essential information for improvements in the diagnosis and prognosis of ESCC.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine - Department of Digestive Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China ; Internal Medicine - Department of Digestive Diseases, Rizhao People's Hospital, Rizhao, Shandong 276800, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine - Department of Digestive Diseases, Shandong Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jin-Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine - Department of Digestive Diseases, Rizhao People's Hospital, Rizhao, Shandong 276800, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine - Department of Digestive Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Gong-Li
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine - Department of Digestive Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ya-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine - Department of Digestive Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xin-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine - Department of Digestive Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hong-Xiang
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine - Department of Digestive Diseases, Rizhao People's Hospital, Rizhao, Shandong 276800, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hai-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine - Department of Digestive Diseases, Rizhao People's Hospital, Rizhao, Shandong 276800, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: cluster of differentiation 31; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; microvessel density; phosphate and tensin homolgy; vascular endothelial growth factor