Abstract

To investigate uPA and VEGF expression in esophageal cancer and relations with tumorous invasion and metastasis. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect uPA and VEGF expression in the normal epithelial tissue of esophageal mucosa and cancer tissue and detect CD34 labeled micrangium and analyze the relationships with clinical pathological features and tumor angiogenesis. Positive rates for uPA and VEGF protein expression were significantly greater in esophageal cancer than normal epithelial tissue (P < 0.05), the two being linked (P <0.05). In addition, uPA and VEGF protein expression of the high microvessel density (MVD) group was significantly lower than in the low MVD group (P < 0.05), with relation to clinical pathological staging, differentiation and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). In esophageal cancer tissue, uPA and VEGF proteins are overexpressed and promote tumor angiogenesis, indicative of a poor prognosis.

Highlights

  • The invasion and metastasis characteristic of esophageal cancer is the postoperative recurrent nature, and causes many patients to lose an operation opportunity

  • Degradation of extracellular matrix and basement membrane caused by fibrin degradation and vascular formation effect are the key steps of tumurous invasion and metastasis. uPA (Urokinasetype Plasminogen Activator) can activate a variety of fibrinolytic enzymes, degrade extracellular matrix and basement membrane and promote tumurous infiltration and metastasis (Schmitt et al, 1997, 2011; Yoshizawa et al, 2011)

  • Degradation of extracellular matrix and basement membrane caused by fibrin degradation and vascular formation effect are the key factors tumurous invasion and metastasis process

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Summary

Introduction

The invasion and metastasis characteristic of esophageal cancer is the postoperative recurrent nature, and causes many patients to lose an operation opportunity. Degradation of extracellular matrix and basement membrane caused by fibrin degradation and vascular formation effect are the key steps of tumurous invasion and metastasis. UPA (Urokinasetype Plasminogen Activator) can activate a variety of fibrinolytic enzymes, degrade extracellular matrix and basement membrane and promote tumurous infiltration and metastasis (Schmitt et al, 1997, 2011; Yoshizawa et al, 2011). VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) can affect vascular endothelial cell and induce division and proliferation of endothelial cells. There are a fewer researches on the significance of uPA and VEGF expressions in esophageal cancer and their influences on tumor angiogenesis. This study used immunohistochemistry SP method to detect uPA and VEGF protein expressions in esophageal cancer, analyzed their significance by combining clinical pathological features of esophageal cancer and investigated the influences of uPA and VEGF on tumor angiogenesis and the relations of them with tumorous invasion and metastasis

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