Placental Growth Factor And Microvessel Density In Node Negative Gastric Cancer.

Background:Placenta growth factor (PIGF) is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of proangiogenic factors and its overexpression has been linked to pathological angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is important in the growth and metastasis of various kinds of solid tumors, including node negative gastric cancers.Our aim is to observe the relationship between the expression of Placental growth factor (PIGF),Micro vessel density (MVD) and the clinicopathological characteristics of Node negative gastric cancer and also if there is a rationale for a new therapeutic strategy.Methods:A series of 79 human Node negative gastric adenocarcinoma cases that had undergone surgical resection was examined immunohistochemically using antibodies against PIGF and CD34, followed by counting Microvessel density.Results:PIGF positive staining was obtained in 62 out of 79 cases (78.4%). In our study,we have identified 16 low MVD (<25) and 46 high MVD(>25) in PIGF-positive group and 15 low MVD (<25) and 2 high MVD (>25) in PIGF-negative group. Interestingly, there was a significantly positive relationship between the PIGF expression and MVD in human node negative gastric cancer (r=0.525, P<0.001).Conclusions:The expression of PIGF is correlated with tumor angiogenesis, and PIGF plays an important role in new blood vessels formation. The expression of PIGF and MVD were closely correlated with the tumor angiogenesis, tumor progression, patient survival and prognostic indicator for Node negative human gastric cancer.