ONCOmmunity

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

By: Deguchi K, Ichikawa D, Soga K, Watanabe K, Kosuga T, Takeshita H, Konishi H, Morimura R, Tsujiura M, Komatsu S, Shiozaki A, Okamoto K, Fujiwara H, Otsuji E.

Division of Digestive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 6028566, Japan.
Anticancer Res. 2010 Jun; 30(6):2361-6.

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.

PMID: 20651394 [PubMed - in process] Source: National Library of Medicine.