The expression and clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor 121 (VEGF_(121) ) in gastric carcinoma

Objective To investigate the expression of angiogenic factors VEGF 121 in gastric carcinoma ,tumour microvessel density (MVD) immunoreactivity of gastric carcinoma and whether clinicopatholgical features of gastric carcinoma are related to the expression of VEGF 121 .Methods Immunohistochemistry technique (SP or SABC) was used to test the expression of the angiogenic factor VEGF 121 and CD34 in 59 gastric carcinoma specimens,15 normal gastric membrane beside carcinoma specimens and 25 gastric benign lesions specimens embedded in paraffin wax.Results (1) Immunoreactivity of VEGF 121 was found in cytoplastic and cell surface of most gastric carcinoma cell (positive staining 47 in 59), the rate of positive staining in gastric carcinoma was the highest (P0.05); the MVD of gastric carcinoma was higher than that of normal gastric tissue beside carcinoma and that of gastric benign lesions (P0.05), Moreover, the shape and structure of microvessel was abnormal. (2)The expression of VEGF 121 vavies with different infiltration depth and with or without distant metastasis(P0.05).Conclusion Infiltrating depth and distantant metastasis are positively related to the expression of VEGF 121 . VEGF 121 expression may be useful to evaluate clinical progression of gastric carcinoma.