Clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factors C and D and chemokine receptor CCR7 in gastric cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM:

This study was designed to investigate the clinical significance of lymphangiogenic vascular endothelial growth factors C and D, and chemokine receptor CCR7 in the lymphatic spread of gastric cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The expressions of VEGF-C and -D, and CCR7 were examined in 82 gastric tumors showing a discrepancy between the degree of lymphatic invasion (Ly) and the status of lymph node metastasis (N) (Ly+N-: 72, and Ly-N+: 10 patients).

RESULTS:

High expression of VEGF-C and -D, and CCR7 was present in 88%, 63% and 67% of cases, respectively. The VEGF-C expression was significantly higher in Ly+N- than Ly-N+ (p<0.05), but VEGF-D and CCR7 were not. CCR7 expression was a prognostic factor in the Ly+N- subgroup (p<0.05), but VEGF-C and -D were not.

CONCLUSION:

VEGF-C and -D and CCR7 may play critical roles in lymphatic invasion in primary tumors. CCR7 expression should provide prognostic information in node-negative gastric cancer patients showing lymphatic invasion.

• Authors: Katsuya Deguchi, Daisuke Ichikawa, Koji Soga, Kenji Watanabe, Toshiyuki Kosuga, Hiroki Takeshita, Hirotaka Konishi, Ryo Morimura, Masahiro Tsujiura, Shuhei Komatsu, Atsushi Shiozaki, Kazuma Okamoto, Hitoshi Fujiwara, Eigo Otsuji
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) Vol. 30 Issue 6 Pg. 2361-6 (Jun 2010) ISSN: 1791-7530 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 20651394 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• CCR7 protein, human
• Receptors, CCR7
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Prognosis
• Receptors, CCR7 (analysis, physiology)
• Stomach Neoplasms (chemistry, mortality, pathology)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C (analysis, physiology)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D (analysis, physiology)