Clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor and p53 gene expression in human gastric cancer

Purpose:To investigate the association between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p53, and their influence on clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic value in gastric cancer.Methods:A total of 108 paraffin embedded gastric cancer tissues were stained with the monoclonal antibodies VEGF and P53 protein by immunohistochemistry.Results:VEGF and P53 expression were observed in 53.7% and 57.4% of gastric tumors, respectively. A significant correlation was found between VEGF and p53 status ( P 0.01).The expressions of VEGF were related to serosa invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage ( P 0.01).There was a close relation between the expression of p53 and patient age, tumor location, vessel invasion, serosa invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage ( P 0.05).The VEGF and P53 expressions correlated with poor prognosis.Conclusions:VEGF expression may be regulated by p53.Both of the two factors relate to the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic value in gastric cancer.