Relationship between microvessel density and liver metastasis in gastric cancer tissues

Objective To investigate the relationship between microvessel density (MVD) and its distribution type and liver metastasis in gastric cancer tissues.Methods Sixty-five specimens were examined by using LSAB immunohistochemical staining. Five fields with highest vascular density and the distributing mode of microvessels in cancer tissues were observed.Results The total mean number of MVD in gastric cancer tissue was 15.22±7.66.MVD was not related with invading depth,histological type and growth mode, but significantly with liver and lymph node metastasis (P0.05).The liver metastasis occurred more commonly in intratumoral type than the peritumor type.The differentiated cancers mostly showed intratumoral vascular distribution.Conclusion MVD in gastric cancer tissue is a useful predictor for the prognosis of the patients with gastric cancer and an objective finding for early predicting the liver metastasis.