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Pathological significance of vascular endothelial growth factor A isoform expression in human cancer
Author(s) -
Nakamura Masato,
Abe Yoshiyuki,
Tokunaga Tetsuji
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
pathology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1827
pISSN - 1320-5463
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1827.2002.01367.x
Subject(s) - pathological , gene isoform , vascular endothelial growth factor , pathology , cancer , medicine , biology , cancer research , vegf receptors , gene , genetics
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a highly specific factor for vascular endothelial cells. Five VEGF‐A isoforms (splice variants 121, 145, 165, 189 and 206) are generated as a result of alternative splicing from a single VEGF‐A gene. These differ in their molecular weights and in biological properties such as their ability to bind to cell‐surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Deregulated VEGF‐A expression contributes to the development of solid tumors by promoting tumor angiogenesis. More specifically, VEGF‐A189 expression is related to angiogenesis and prognosis in certain human solid tumors. VEGF‐A189 expression is also related to the xenotransplantability of human cancers into immunodeficient mice in vivo . Consequently, inhibition of VEGF‐A or VEGF‐A189 signaling regulates the development and metastasis of a variety of tumors. This review focuses on recent studies of the mechanisms by which VEGF‐A regulates angiogenesis in the cancer stroma and on our recent findings concerning the potential mechanisms of VEGF‐A189 expression on tumor growth and metastasis.