Vascular endothelial growth factor-C and -D expression correlates with lymph node micrometastasis in pN0 early gastric cancer

• Published in: Journal of surgical oncology Vol. 99; no. 3; pp. 148 - 153
• Main Authors: Arigami, Takaaki, Natsugoe, Shoji, Uenosono, Yoshikazu, Yanagita, Shigehiro, Ehi, Katsuhiko, Arima, Hideo, Mataki, Yuko, Nakajo, Akihiro, Ishigami, Sumiya, Aikou, Takashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-03-2009
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - secondary; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Carcinoembryonic Antigen - genetics; Cell Line, Tumor; Female; gastric cancer; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; lymph node micrometastasis; Lymph Nodes - metabolism; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C - metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D - metabolism; VEGF-D
• ISSN: 0022-4790; 1096-9098
• DOI: 10.1002/jso.21228

Background and Objectives
Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF)‐C and ‐D play an important role in lymphangiogenesis, and the expressions of these factors are related to lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis in various malignant neoplasms. The present study investigates the expression of VEGF‐C and ‐D in early gastric cancer and analyzes its relationship to lymph node micrometastasis determined by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR).
Methods
We examined 1,828 lymph nodes obtained from 80 patients with node‐negative early gastric cancer. All dissected lymph nodes were examined by RT‐PCR for CEA mRNA in addition to hematoxylin–eosin staining. The resected primary specimens were immunostained using anti‐VEGF‐C and ‐D polyclonal antibodies.
Results
The incidence of lymph node micrometastasis determined by RT‐PCR was 23.8% (19/80). The high expression of VEGF‐C and ‐D was found in 27.5% (22/80) and in 21.3% (17/80), respectively. The expression of VEGF‐C and ‐D was closely related to lymph node micrometastasis (P = 0.0390 and 0.0213, respectively).
Conclusions
We demonstrated a close relationship between micrometastasis and VEGF‐C and ‐D expression of the primary tumor. Thus, levels of VEGF‐C and ‐D expression might be useful for predicting micrometastasis in patients with early gastric cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;99: 148–153. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.