The prognostic significance of growth factors and growth factor receptors in gastric adenocarcinoma

Abstract

We evaluated growth factors/receptors expression in gastric adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF-D, VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-2, VEGFR-3, transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, TGF-β1, and TGF-β-RII in tissue microarrays of adenocarcinoma, dysplasia, metaplasia, and gastritis. In adenocarcinoma, the expression rates of EGFR, VEGF, VEGF-D, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, TGF-α, TGF-β1, and TGF-β-RII were 2.0%, 0%, 10.7%, 4.4%, 11.2%, 26.3%, 9.4%, and 19.5%, respectively. VEGF-D, TGF-α, TGF-β1, and TGF-β-RII expression rate were higher in adenocarcinoma than in other groups. TGF-β-RII expression was correlated with VEGFR-3, VEGF-D, and TGF-α expression in adenocarcinomas. Tumor location, histologic type, stage, lymphatic invasion, perineural invasion, angioinvasion, VEGF-D, and VEGFR-2 expressions were associated with patient survival in a log rank test and advanced stage and positive expression of VEGF-D were poor prognostic factors using Cox analysis. VEGF-D expression may be of prognostic value in gastric adenocarcinoma, whereas EGFR and TGF family expression may only have a minor influence.

Quantum dots targeted to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 as a contrast agent for the detection of colorectal cancer

“…Visual inspection also indicates that the expression of VEGFR2 within each diseased area is variable, as is the expression among all of the tumors in a single mouse. This has been shown in previous studies on VEGFR2 expression in colon cancer [42][43][44][45][46]52 and in our own histological evaluation of the colons as demonstrated in Fig. 3.…”

“…It has been shown that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) is upregulated in many cancers, including colorectal, as it is important in tumor angiogenesis. [42][43][44][45][46][47] Currently, VEGFR2 is considered a predictor for clinical outcome and in some instances is used for targeted therapy with antiangiogenic drugs. 43,44,[48][49][50] For these reasons, quantum dots bioconjugated to VEGFR2 antibodies have the potential to provide contrast between normal colon and neoplastic lesions as well as a mechanism for evaluating the molecular changes of colorectal tumors in vivo.…”

Follow-up after curative resection for gastric cancer: Is it time to tailor it?

“…In the setting of surveillance, some of the biomarkers may represent potential prognostic indicators, able to differentiate patients according to the risk of recurrence, and potential early markers of tumor relapse. Among the prognostic markers, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, a regulator of angiogenesis, has been associated with a poor prognosis by several authors[60,61]. VEGF receptors are the targets of novel monoclonal antibodies that are currently being evaluated in clinical trials as potential treatments for advanced gastric cancer, such as ramucirumab and bevacizumab[62,63].…”

Biomarkers for gastric cancer: Progression in early diagnosis and prognosis (Review)

“…For example, Kim et al (42) evaluated the expression of various growth factors/receptors in gastric adenocarcinoma, including EGFR, VEGF, VEGF-D, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, TGF-α, TGF-β1 and TGF-β RII, using a log rank test to identify that VEGF-D and VEGFR-2 expression was associated with patient survival, and Cox regression analysis to determine that advanced stage gastric cancer and positive expression of VEGF-D were poor prognostic factors. Thus, in gastric adenocarcinoma, VEGF-D expression levels may be of prognostic value, whereas the expression levels of the EGFR and TGF family may have only a minor effect.…”