J Korean Med Sci.  2008 Aug;23(4):592-597. 10.3346/jkms.2008.23.4.592.

Correlation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D Expression and VEGFR-3-Positive Vessel Density with Lymph Node Metastasis in Gastric Carcinoma

• Choi JH
• Oh YH
• Park YW
• Baik HK
• Lee YY
• Kim IS

• KMID: 1785815
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2008.23.4.592

Abstract

Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) is a lymphangiogenic growth factor that activates VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3, a receptor expressed in the lymphatic endothelium. We investigated the clinical value of VEGF-D expression and VEGFR-3 positive vessel density in gastric carcinoma with regard to lymphangiogenesis. Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the expression of VEGF-D and VEGFR- 3 in specimens from 104 cases of resected gastric cancer. VEGF-D expression was observed in 62.5% of the gastric cancers and in 9.6% of the non-neoplastic gastric tissue. The VEGFR-3-positive vessel density was significantly greater in the VEGFD positive group than the negative group. VEGF-D expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, increased serum CEA levels, and the nonsignet ring cell type. The VEGFR-3-positive vessel density was correlated with tumor size, lymphatic invasion, and lymph node metastasis. The VEGF-D expression and high VEGFR-3-positive vessel density were significant poor prognostic factors for relapse-free survival. These results suggest that VEGF-D and VEGFR-3-positive vessel density are potential molecular markers that predict lymphatic involvement in gastric carcinoma.

Keyword

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3; Stomach Neoplasms

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Female
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Lymphatic Metastasis
Male
Middle Aged
Prognosis
Stomach Neoplasms/*blood supply/chemistry/*pathology
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D/*analysis
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3/*analysis

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Immunohistochemical staining of a gastric carcinoma. Each photograph shows representative tissue that is positive for VEGF-D (A) and VEGFR-3 (B) (×400).

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  Fig. 2 Correlation between VEGF-D expression and VEGFR-3-positive vessel density (FVD).

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  Fig. 3 Relapse-free survival of patients with gastric cancer according to VEGF-D expression (A) and VEGFR-3-positive vessel density (B).

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