Oncol Res Treat. 2017;40(1-2):35-41. doi: 10.1159/000455144. Epub 2017 Jan 25.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance and prognostic roles of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and elucidate their intrinsic association with molecular markers.
89 human gastric cancer cases with detailed follow-up and clinicopathologic data were collected. CD34/periodic acid-Schiff double staining was performed to validate the existence of VM. Immunohistochemistry was performed to explore the expression of different molecular factors.
VM was observed in 24 gastric cancer patients. They were prone to higher histological grade, hematogenous metastasis, distant recurrence, and chance of progression to stage III or IV (p < 0.05). The VM group had shorter overall and disease-free survival (p < 0.05). VM negativity was independently prognostic for prolonged overall or disease-free survival (p < 0.05). VM was positively associated with levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, vascular endothelial growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (p < 0.05), but not with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (p > 0.05).
VM should be regarded as a good marker to indicate pathobiological behaviors of gastric cancer. Using antibodies against matrix metalloproteinases, vascular endothelial growth factor, or vascular endothelial growth factor receptors could be strategies to counteract VM formation.
本研究旨在评估脉管生成拟态（VM）的临床意义和预后作用，并阐明其与分子标志物的内在关联。
收集了 89 例具有详细随访和临床病理数据的人胃癌病例。进行 CD34/过碘酸-Schiff 双重染色以验证 VM 的存在。免疫组织化学用于探索不同分子因子的表达。
在 24 例胃癌患者中观察到 VM。它们更容易发生更高的组织学分级、血液转移、远处复发以及进展为 III 或 IV 期的机会（p<0.05）。VM 组的总生存期和无病生存期更短（p<0.05）。VM 阴性是总生存期或无病生存期延长的独立预后因素（p<0.05）。VM 与基质金属蛋白酶-2、基质金属蛋白酶-9、血管内皮生长因子和血管内皮生长因子受体-1 的水平呈正相关（p<0.05），但与血管内皮生长因子受体-2 无关（p>0.05）。
VM 应被视为指示胃癌病理生物学行为的良好标志物。使用针对基质金属蛋白酶、血管内皮生长因子或血管内皮生长因子受体的抗体可能是对抗 VM 形成的策略。
