title: Significance of Vasculogenic Mimicry Formation in Gastric Carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance and prognostic roles of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and elucidate their intrinsic association with molecular markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  89 human gastric cancer cases with detailed follow-up and clinicopathologic data were collected. CD34/periodic acid-Schiff double staining was performed to validate the existence of VM. Immunohistochemistry was performed to explore the expression of different molecular factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VM was observed in 24 gastric cancer patients. They were prone to higher histological grade, hematogenous metastasis, distant recurrence, and chance of progression to stage III or IV (p < 0.05). The VM group had shorter overall and disease-free survival (p < 0.05). VM negativity was independently prognostic for prolonged overall or disease-free survival (p < 0.05). VM was positively associated with levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, vascular endothelial growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (p < 0.05), but not with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VM should be regarded as a good marker to indicate pathobiological behaviors of gastric cancer. Using antibodies against matrix metalloproteinases, vascular endothelial growth factor, or vascular endothelial growth factor receptors could be strategies to counteract VM formation.
authors.forename: Jingfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Baocun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Huizhi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yanhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Junying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiulan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Xueyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Che
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9