Expression and significance of vascular endothelial growth factors C and D in the tissue and serum of patients with gastric cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) and their relationship with lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer. Methods Eighty patients with gastric cancer had been admitted to our department from January 2005 to December 2005, including 48 with local lymph node metastasis and 32 without local lymph node metastasis. Ten specimens of normal gastric mucosa from patients with gastric ulcer were used as control. The expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in serum and tissues were detected. Results The senun levels of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in patients with gastric cancer were significantly higher than those in the control group (χ2= 8.39, P < 0.05). The positive rate of the VEGF-C expression in the sermn of patients with gastric cancer was influenced by the lymph node metastasis (χ2 = 7.01, P < 0.05). The positive rates of the expressions of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in the gastric cancer tissue were 53% (42/80) and 63% (50/80), which were significantly higher than those in the normal gastric mucosa (χ2 =6.44, 6.58, P <0.05). The positive rate of the VEGF-C expression in the tissue of patients with gastric cancer was influenced by the lymph node metastasis (χ2=11.25, P <0.05). Conclusions The expression of VEGF-C is closely related to lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer. The serum levels of VEGF-C can be used as biologic markers in detecting lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer preoperatively. Key words: Gastric cancer; Vascular endothelial growth factor-C; Vascular endothelial growth factor-D