Study on Correlation Between Expression of Fibronectin in Extracellular Matrix and Angiogenesis of Gastric Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the correlation between the expression of fibronectin(FN) in extracellular matrix(ECM) and angiogenesis of gastric carcinoma.Methods The expressions of FN and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in 20 specimens of normal gastric tissue(normal group) and 80 specimens of gastric carcinoma tissue(gastric carcinoma group) were detected by EnVison~(TM) immunohistochemical technique.Tumor microvessel densit y(MVD) was evaluated by using anti-CD34 antibody as an endothelial marker by the same technique as well.Results The immune complex of FN stained in brown were distributed around glands and in connective tissue of gastric specimens. In normal group,the staining of FN formed intact linear structure at basement membrane and presented regular striae form in connective tissue.In gastric carcinoma group,the integrity of linear structure of FN staining at basement membrane were destroyed to different extent and the staining of FN in connective tissue were changed deeper and distributed irregularly.The expression of VEGF and the value of MVD in the gastric carcinoma group was higher than those in normal group's(P0.01,P0.01,respectively).This study indicated,that in gastric carcinoma group,the degree of FN expression in connective tissue had statistically positive correlations with the degree of VEGF expression and MVD value(P0.01,P0.05,respectively).Whereas the destruction extent of linear structure of FN staining at basement membrane showed no correlation with VEGF expression and MVD value(P0.05,P0.05,respectively).Conclusion The higher expression of FN in connective tissue of gastric carcinoma may well play a critical role in its process of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis.There may be an cooperative interactions between FN and VEGF in the process of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis of gastric carcinoma.