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Quantitative analysis of lymphangiogenic markers for predicting metastasis of human gastric carcinoma to lymph nodes
Author(s) -
Kitadai Yasuhiko,
Kodama Michiyo,
Cho Songde,
Kuroda Tsuyoshi,
Ochiumi Takehiko,
Kimura Shigeru,
Tanaka Shinji,
Matsumura Shunji,
Yasui Wataru,
Chayama Kazuaki
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.20859
Subject(s) - podoplanin , medicine , pathology , lymphatic system , lymphangiogenesis , lymph , lymphatic vessel , metastasis , immunohistochemistry , lymph node , carcinoma , cancer
The spread of tumor cells to regional lymph nodes is an early event of gastric cancer metastasis. In our study, we assessed the expression of lymphangiogenic factors and lymphatic endothelial markers in gastric carcinoma tissues and compared expression levels with the status of lymph node metastasis. We also examined the correlation between lymphatic vessel density (LVD) in primary tumors and lymph node metastasis. Paired biopsy samples (tumor and corresponding normal mucosa) of gastric tissue were obtained from 39 patients with gastric carcinoma. The expression of VEGF‐C, VEGF‐D, VEGFR‐3 and podoplanin mRNAs was assessed by real‐time quantitative PCR. The expression of VEGF‐C (but not of VEGF‐D) was significantly greater in patients with lymph node metastasis than in those without metastasis. The expression of lymphatic endothelial markers VEGFR‐3 and podoplanin was also significantly greater in the node‐positive group. LVD, as assessed by immunohistochemistry for podoplanin, was correlated with lymph node metastasis. These results indicate that quantitative analysis of lymphangiogenic markers in gastric biopsy specimens may be useful in predicting metastasis of gastric cancer to regional lymph nodes. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.