Expression of Versican and its clinical significance in gastric carcinoma / 中华病理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of Versican in gastric carcinoma and its relationship with tumor angiogenesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Protein expression of Versican, vascular endothelial growth factor and CD34 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (EliVision method) in 80 cases of gastric carcinoma and 30 samples of normal gastric tissue.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were statistically significant differences in the expression of Versican, vascular endothelial growth factor and CD34 between gastric carcinoma and normal gastric tissue (P < 0.05). The expression of Versican was seen mainly in fibroblasts of the tumor and was correlated with tumor differentiation, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), whereas vascular endothelial growth factor was primarily seen in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells and correlated with tumor differentiation, clinical stage, Lauren classification and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). MVD was correlated with tumor differentiation, clinical stage, Lauren classification, depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). In addition, positive correlation of Versican and VEGF protein expression was found in tumor cells (r = 0.467, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of both Versican and vascular endothelial growth factor is closely associated with tumor angiogenesis in gastric carcinoma.</p>