Expression of bFGF in the human gastric adenocarcinoma and clinical significance

Objective To investigate the relationship between tumor angiogenesis and the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods Expression of bFGF in 54 gastric adenocarcinoma tissue samples,including 32 low differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma cases and 22 well differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma cases, was investigated using immunohistochemical staining.The microvessel density(MVD) was determined by immunostaining for factor VIII-related antigen. Results Of 32 low differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma tissue samples,24(75.0%) were evaluated as bFGF-positive. Of 22 well differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma tissue samples,8(36.4%) were evaluated as bFGF-positive. The expression of bFGF was significantly related with degrees of differentiation of gastric carcinoma( P 0.05). The microvessel density was significantly higher in bFGF-positive tumours than in bFGF-negative tumors ( P = 0.0313) .Conclusions It is suggested that expression of bFGF plays a role in the promotion of angiogenesis in human gastric adenocarcinoma.