Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and receptor flk-1 in colon cancer liver metastases

Journal of Hepato-biliary-pancreatic Surgery
Jun ChengPaul D Hansen

Abstract

This study investigated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and flk-1 expression in hepatic metastases from colon carcinoma, and their associations with tumor angiogenesis, proliferation, and apoptosis. Immunohistochemical studies were performed for VEGF/flk-1, Ki-67, p53, and bcl-2 expression, and microvessel density (MVD) in surgical specimens from 35 patients who underwent hepatectomy for colon cancer liver metastases between 1986 and 2001. VEGF and flk-1 were expressed mainly in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. High VEGF expression was associated with high flk-1 expression (P = 0.043). MVDs of less than 15 and 15 or more were found in 5 (14.3%) and 30 (85.7%) of 35 hepatic metastases, respectively. A Ki-67 index (KI) of 50% or more was detected in 33/35 (94.3%) of tumors, and 23 of these (65.7%) showed a KI of 85% or more. A KI of less than 50% was present in 2/35 (5.7%) of tumors. The expression of VEGF/flk-1 was related to elevated MVD (P < or = 0.026). VEGF was also associated with an increased KI (P = 0.025). Mutant p53 and bcl-2 expressions were detected in 26/35 (74.3%) and 17/35 (48.6%) of liver metastases, respectively. Mutant p53 was not related to VEGF/flk-1 expression, but bcl-2 was highly associated with flk-...Continue Reading

Citations

Nov 2, 2007·Surgical Endoscopy·Lee L Swanstrom
Mar 1, 2012·World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG·Ana AbajoJesus Garcia-Foncillas
Jun 12, 2010·Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine : Official Publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology·Gino MarioniAlberto Staffieri
Nov 7, 2006·European Surgical Research. Europäische Chirurgische Forschung. Recherches Chirurgicales Européennes·Furuzan Kacar DogerHakan Cevikel
Nov 6, 2009·Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research·Michael I KoukourakisUNKNOWN Tumour and Angiogenesis Research Group

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