Abstract | AIMS: The assessment of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) has been suggested as a tool to determine the metastatic risk of neoplasias. On this premise, the authors aimed to verify whether progression risk of stage I colorectal cancer may be related to LVD. The authors also evaluated and correlated vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF)-A expression with LVD revealed in the same cases in order to investigate its potential lymphangiogenic role in the early stage colorectal cancer. METHODS: RESULTS: A high density of peritumoural lymphatics (P-LVD) was significantly associated with high VEGF expression and disease progression. Moreover, high P-LVD and high VEGF expression were significant negative prognostic parameters associated with a shorter disease-free interval in stage I colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: If our findings are further confirmed in other studies, the assessment of P-LVD on surgical specimens might be used as a tool to identify patients with stage I colorectal cancer at higher risk of progression in order to submit them to adjuvant therapies. Since P-LVD seems to show a VEGF-A mediated regulation in stage I colorectal cancer, therapies targeting this factor might be exploited to reduce lymphangiogenesis and the progression risk of this neoplasia.
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Authors | V Barresi, L Reggiani-Bonetti, C Di Gregorio, M Ponz De Leon, G Barresi |
Journal | Journal of clinical pathology
(J Clin Pathol)
Vol. 64
Issue 1
Pg. 6-12
(Jan 2011)
ISSN: 1472-4146 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 20947870
(Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Biomarkers, Tumor
- Neoplasm Proteins
- VEGFA protein, human
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
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Topics |
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Biomarkers, Tumor
(metabolism)
- Colorectal Neoplasms
(metabolism, pathology, surgery)
- Disease Progression
- Epidemiologic Methods
- Female
- Humans
- Lymphatic Vessels
(pathology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Proteins
(metabolism)
- Neoplasm Staging
- Prognosis
- Treatment Outcome
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
(metabolism)
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