OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and metastin in colorectal carcinoma and their association with the clinicopathological features of the malignancy. METHODS: VEGF and metastin expressions were examined immunohistochemically with SP method in 70 specimens of human colorectal carcinoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues. RESULTS: VEGF protein overexpression was detected in 48.6% (34/70)of the colorectal carcinoma tissues but in none of the adjacent normal tissues (P<0.01), and for metastin, the overexpression rate was 28.6% (20/70) in the colorectal carcinoma tissues and 70.0% (49/70) in the normal tissues (P<0.01). The expression of both VEGF and metastin was related to the histological grades, infiltration depth, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of the tumor (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical detection of VEGF and metastin can be of value in assessment of the malignancy and in prognostic evaluation of colorectal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and metastin in colorectal carcinoma and their association with the clinicopathological features of the malignancy. METHODS:VEGF and metastin expressions were examined immunohistochemically with SP method in 70 specimens of humancolorectal carcinoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues. RESULTS:VEGF protein overexpression was detected in 48.6% (34/70)of the colorectal carcinoma tissues but in none of the adjacent normal tissues (P<0.01), and for metastin, the overexpression rate was 28.6% (20/70) in the colorectal carcinoma tissues and 70.0% (49/70) in the normal tissues (P<0.01). The expression of both VEGF and metastin was related to the histological grades, infiltration depth, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of the tumor (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical detection of VEGF and metastin can be of value in assessment of the malignancy and in prognostic evaluation of colorectal carcinoma.