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VEGF-A and VEGF-B mRNA expression in gastro-oesophageal cancers

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Abstract

Introduction

Angiogenesis is essential for the local growth, invasion and metastasis of the tumours. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) play a crucial role in tumour angiogenesis. The aim of our study was to quantify the expression of several VEGF family molecules in human gastro-oesophageal cancers and to analyse possible correlations between genes expression and clinico-pathological features.

Materials and methods

Gene expression was quantified in 43 gastro-oesophageal paired samples using qRT-PCR with TaqMan probes specific to VEGF-A, including soluble transcript variants and VEGF-B genes.

Results

VEGF-A, including the studied splice variants and VEGF-B mRNAs were expressed in both tumour and peritumour mucosa. The expression of VEGF-A and its isoforms was higher in tumour compared with paired peritumour mucosa, while no significant difference was observed in VEGF-B expression. VEGF-A expression tended to correlate with tumour invasion.

Conclusion

VEGF-A has a tendency to over-express in gastro-oesophageal cancers, while VEGF-B does not seem involved in these tumours. Further studies are required to establish the utility of anti-VEGF-A therapy and to find biomarkers for pathogenesis or response to therapy in gastro-oesophageal tumours.

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Acknowledgments

C.A. and F.B. are supported by the POSDRU/6/1.5/S/8 grant entitled “Scholarship opportunities for full-time PhD students”. R.A. was founded by POSDRU/88/1.5/S/52826 grant entitled “Development of PhD schools by offering scholarships to full-time PhD students”. M.I. was supported by the “Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development (SOP HRD)”, financed from the European Social Fund and by the Romanian Government under the contract number POSDRU/89/1.5/S/64109. The study was funded by the research grant “Role of endoscopic ultrasound and optical coherence tomography for the minimal-invasive assessment of neo-angiogenesis in digestive cancer patients (OCTEUS)”, ID_154, grant number 239/2007, PN II, Human Resources—IDEI.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Human Genomics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Bvd. 1 Mai, No. 66, Craiova, Romania

    Cristina Angelescu, Florin Burada, Mihai Ioana, Anca Riza, Francisc Mixich & Mihai Cruce

  2. Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Bvd. 1 Mai, No. 66, Craiova, Romania

    Cristina Angelescu, Florin Burada, Mihai Ioana, Radu Angelescu, Francisc Mixich & Adrian Săftoiu

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania

    Radu Angelescu & Adrian Săftoiu

  4. Department of General Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania

    Emil Moraru

  5. Faculty of Medicine “Victor Papilian”, “Lucian Blaga” University, Sibiu, Romania

    Sanda Marchian

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  1. Cristina Angelescu
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  2. Florin Burada
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Correspondence to Cristina Angelescu.

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Angelescu, C., Burada, F., Ioana, M. et al. VEGF-A and VEGF-B mRNA expression in gastro-oesophageal cancers. Clin Transl Oncol 15, 313–320 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-012-0923-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-012-0923-y

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