J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc.  2009 Sep;9(3):96-103.

Clinical Significance of VEGF-C and COX-2 Expression in Gastric Carcinoma with Submucosal Invasion

• Cho YJ
• Lee JU
• Lee KJ
• Park CH
• Park SM
• Jeon HM
• Ahn CJ
• Kim JG
• Lee DH
• Lee SC

Abstract

PURPOSE
Lymph node metastasis is an important factor in determining prognosis and therapeutic options for early gastric cancer (EGC) patients. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and D are known as lymphangiogenic factors, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is thought to play a role in lymph node metastasis in gastric carcinoma. This study was designed to determine whether the expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and COX-2 is associated with clinicopathologic factors, especially lymph node metastasis in EGCs invading the submucosa.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Tissue samples were obtained from 85 Patients undergoing standard gastrectomy with lymph node dissection between 1991 and 2007 in the Department of Surgery of Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital in Daejeon, Korea. All patients were diagnosed with gastric cancers and submucosal invasion. We examined the expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and COX-2 using immunohistochemical methods.
RESULTS
Of the 85 patients, 16 (18.8%) had lymph node metastasis. VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and COX-2 were positively expressed in 34.1% (29/85), 22.3% (19/85), and 37.6% (32/85) of the patients. VEGF-C and COX-2 expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). A positive correlation existed between VEGF-C and COX-2 expression (P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
VEGF-C and COX-2 expression is associated with lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer with submucosal invasion. VEGF-C and COX-2 may thus be predictive markers for lymph node metastasis in EGC patients with submucosal invasion.

Keyword

Early gastric cancer; VEGF-C; COX-2; Lymph node metastasis

MeSH Terms

Gastrectomy
Humans
Korea
Lymph Node Excision
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
Prognosis
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
Stomach Neoplasms
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D