Kamei Shigeo, Kono Koji, Amemiya Hideki, Takahashi Akihiro, Sugai Hidemitsu, Ichihara Fumiko, Fujii Hideki, Matsumoto Yoshirou
First Department of Surgery, Yamanashi Medical University, 1110 Tamaho, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan.
J Gastroenterol. 2003;38(6):540-7. doi: 10.1007/s00535-002-1099-y.
Gastric cancers producing alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are known to have a poor prognosis and to show a high incidence of liver metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its isoform VEGF-C are reported to be associated with tumor progression through an angiogenic or lymphangiogenic function. In the present study, to clarify the cellular characteristics of AFP-producing gastric cancers, the expression of VEGF and that of VEGF-C in AFP-producing gastric cancer was compared with their expression in gastric cancers that do not produce AFP.
Twenty-six patients with AFP-producing gastric cancers [AFP(+)] and 26 patients with stage-matched gastric cancers that did not produce AFP [AFP(-)] were evaluated for VEGF and VEGF-C expression and vessel density, using immunohistochemical analysis.
The survival rate of the AFP(+) group was significantly worse than that of the stage-matched AFP(-) group (P < 0.05). The frequency of VEGF-C expression was significantly higher in the AFP(+) group than in the AFP(-) group (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in VEGF expression between the AFP(+) and AFP(+) groups. The microvessel density was higher in the AFP(+) group than in the AFP(-) group (P < 0.05).
A higher expression of VEGF-C might be one explanation for the poorer prognosis of AFP-producing gastric cancers.
已知产生甲胎蛋白（AFP）的胃癌预后较差且肝转移发生率较高。据报道，血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）及其异构体VEGF - C通过血管生成或淋巴管生成功能与肿瘤进展相关。在本研究中，为阐明产生AFP的胃癌的细胞特征，将产生AFP的胃癌中VEGF和VEGF - C的表达与不产生AFP的胃癌中的表达进行了比较。
采用免疫组织化学分析，对26例产生AFP的胃癌患者[AFP(+)]和26例分期匹配的不产生AFP的胃癌患者[AFP(-)]的VEGF和VEGF - C表达及血管密度进行评估。
AFP(+)组的生存率显著低于分期匹配的AFP(-)组（P < 0.05）。AFP(+)组中VEGF - C表达的频率显著高于AFP(-)组（P < 0.01）。AFP(+)组和AFP(-)组之间VEGF表达无显著差异。AFP(+)组的微血管密度高于AFP(-)组（P < 0.05）。
VEGF - C的高表达可能是产生AFP的胃癌预后较差的一个原因。
