The Effect and Mechanism of Vascular Endothelial Growth Fac-tor (VEGF) on Tumor Angiogenesis in Gallbladder Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: To investigate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on tumor angiogenesis in gallbladder carcinoma.
 Methods: Fifty one patients with gallbladder carcinoma were enrolled as observation group. Thirty healthy people were included as control group. Chemically synthesized siRNA sequences targeting VEGF was transfected with VEGF-siRNA. A blank group (group B), a negative control group (transfected with independent sequence, group C), and an inhibition group (transfected with VEGF siRNA, group D) were established. Physiological saline was set as group A. The expression of VEGF was detected by qRT-PCR. The expression of VEGF protein was detected by Western blot. MVD was used to measure microvessel density. CCK-8, Transwell and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis.
 Results: The tumor volume of nude mice and VEGF mRNA expression in group D was significantly smaller than that in group B and C (P<0.05). The MVD density in group B and C was significantly higher than that in group D (P<0.01). The proliferation of cells was detected from the 3rd day, and the proliferation of cells in the blank and negative control groups was faster than that of the inhibition group (P<0.05). The apoptosis rate of the blank group and the negative control group was lower than that of the inhibition group (P<0.001).
 Conclusion: VEGF is highly expressed in serum of patients with cholangiocarcinoma, it promotes angiogenesis, proliferation and invasion of gallbladder cancer cells, and inhibits apoptosis of tumor cells.

Role of VEGFs/VEGFR-1 Signaling and Its Inhibition in Modulating Tumor Invasion: Experimental Evidence in Different Metastatic Cancer Models

“…High VEGF-A expression was also detected in gallbladder carcinoma, the most common malignancy of the biliary tract, where it correlated with histological tumor grade and TNM (tumor, node, metastasis) staging [121,122]. In this tumor type, PlGF was also overexpressed and stimulated EMT through c-MYC upregulation and consequent induction of miR-19a, a miRNA which plays an important role in gallbladder metastasis and stemness.…”

Molecular Targets and Emerging Therapies for Advanced Gallbladder Cancer

“…Recently, Xu et al found that VEGF was notably elevated in the serum of patients with GBC and VEGF promoted angiogenesis, cell proliferation and invasion, but inhibited apoptosis in GBC cells [56]. In addition, elevated serum levels and tissue expression of the lymphangiogenic VEGF-C are correlated with tissue expression, lymph node metastases and decreased OS [53].…”

Overview of current targeted therapy in gallbladder cancer

“…It is well appreciated that microvessel density correlated with cancer progression, metastasis, and prognosis in GBC 90 and VEGF-A was overexpressed to serve as an independent prognostic factor of survival in GBC. 91 Recently, Xu et al 92 found that VEGF was notably elevated in the serum of patients with GBC and VEGF promoted angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and invasion, but inhibited apoptosis in GBC cells. Inconsistent with the data, Zhang et al 93 reported that the expression of estrogen receptor 1 (ER1) or VEGF-A alone was not correlated with OS of GBC patients.…”