BACKGROUND/AIMS: We combined two different signal pathways on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-Smad and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C)/VEGF receptors for exploring changes in pathway members and their influence on lymphangiogenesis and clinicopathological features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expression of TGF-β1, TGF-βRII, Smad4, VEGF-C, and VEGFR-3 was immunohistochemically evaluated in 147 colon cancer patients who were followed up for 5 years. RESULTS: Lymphatic vessel density in colon cancer tissues was significantly higher than in normal colonic tissues. Smad4 expression negatively correlated with lymphatic vessel count and VEGF-C expression. VEGF-C expression positively correlated with lymphatic vessel count. Analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method indicated that patients with VEGF-C-positive tumors had significantly shorter overall survival and tumor-free survival time than those with VEGF-C-negative tumors. Patients with Smad4-negative tumors had significantly shorter overall survival and tumor-free survival time than those with Smad4-positive tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Both Smad4 and VEGF-C are involved in lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis. Smad4 and VEGF-C expression may be clinically useful indicators for prognostic evaluation in colon cancer patients.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: We combined two different signal pathways on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-Smad and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C)/VEGF receptors for exploring changes in pathway members and their influence on lymphangiogenesis and clinicopathological features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expression of TGF-β1, TGF-βRII, Smad4, VEGF-C, and VEGFR-3 was immunohistochemically evaluated in 147 colon cancerpatients who were followed up for 5 years. RESULTS: Lymphatic vessel density in colon cancer tissues was significantly higher than in normal colonic tissues. Smad4 expression negatively correlated with lymphatic vessel count and VEGF-C expression. VEGF-C expression positively correlated with lymphatic vessel count. Analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method indicated that patients with VEGF-C-positive tumors had significantly shorter overall survival and tumor-free survival time than those with VEGF-C-negative tumors. Patients with Smad4-negative tumors had significantly shorter overall survival and tumor-free survival time than those with Smad4-positive tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Both Smad4 and VEGF-C are involved in lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis. Smad4 and VEGF-C expression may be clinically useful indicators for prognostic evaluation in colon cancerpatients.
Authors: Amanda Blackford; Oscar K Serrano; Christopher L Wolfgang; Giovanni Parmigiani; Siân Jones; Xiaosong Zhang; D Williams Parsons; Jimmy Cheng-Ho Lin; Rebecca J Leary; James R Eshleman; Michael Goggins; Elizabeth M Jaffee; Christine A Iacobuzio-Donahue; Anirban Maitra; John L Cameron; Kelly Olino; Richard Schulick; Jordan Winter; Joseph M Herman; Daniel Laheru; Alison P Klein; Bert Vogelstein; Kenneth W Kinzler; Victor E Velculescu; Ralph H Hruban Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 2009-07-07 Impact factor: 12.531
Authors: Marta Biedka; Roman Makarewicz; Ewa Kopczyńska; Andrzej Marszałek; Alina Goralewska; Hanna Kardymowicz Journal: Contemp Oncol (Pozn) Date: 2012-02-29