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Vasculogenic Mimicry: a New Prognostic Sign of Gastric Adenocarcinoma

  • Published:
Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) has been generally recognized as a new pattern of tumor neovascularization. It presents in many human malignancies. Till now, there is no report about VM in gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). In this study, we collected 173 paraffin-embedded human GAC samples, with detailed follow-up and clinicopathologic data. CD31/ periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) double staining, immunohistochemical staining of CK8 & 18 and laminin were performed to validate the existence of VM in GAC. Microvascular density (MVD) and vasulogenic mimicry density (VMD) were counted respectively. VM was observed in 40 of the 173 GAC patients, especially in poorly differentiated GAC (P = 0.014). Patients with VM were prone to hematogenous metastasis and distant recurrence compared with patients without VM (P = 0.020, 0.029). Higher VMD values was also associated with hematogenous metastasis (P = 0.003). Immunohistochemical staining index (SI) of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 were compared between the VM and non-VM group. The SI of four factors were all higher in the VM group than those of non-VM group (P = 0.000, 0.000, 0.004, 0.009, respectively). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the VM group has shorter life span compared with non-VM group (P = 0.022). Cox proportional hazards model indicated that the presence of VM and TNM stage were independent predictors of poor prognosis (P = 0.039 and 0.004) for GAC. In conclusion, VM exists in GAC, especially in poorly differentiated GAC. Additionally, it is an unfavorable prognostic indictor for GAC. Hypoxia may play a role in VM formation in GAC.

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Abbreviations

ECM:

extracellular matrix

EDV:

endothelium dependent vessel

GAC:

gastric adenocarcinoma

HIF-1α:

hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α

MMP:

matrix metalloproteinase

MV:

mosaic vessel

MVD:

microvascular density

PAS:

periodic acid-Schiff

SI:

staining index

RBCs:

red blood cells

VEGF:

vascular endothelial growth factor

VM:

vasculogenic mimicry

VMD:

vasulogenic mimicry density

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from a Key project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30830049), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30770828), and Tianjin Natural Science Foundation (Nos.09ZCZDSF04400).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Tianjin Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, People’s Republic of China

    Man Li, Yanjun Gu, Shiwu Zhang, Danfang Zhang & Baocun Sun

  2. Department of Digestive, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300211, People’s Republic of China

    Man Li & Zhiguang Zhang

  3. Department of Surgery, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, People’s Republic of China

    Ali F. Saleem

  4. Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, People’s Republic of China

    Xiulan Zhao & Baocun Sun

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  1. Man Li
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  2. Yanjun Gu
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  3. Zhiguang Zhang
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  4. Shiwu Zhang
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  8. Baocun Sun
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Baocun Sun.

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Man Li and Baocun Sun contributed equally to this work.

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Li, M., Gu, Y., Zhang, Z. et al. Vasculogenic Mimicry: a New Prognostic Sign of Gastric Adenocarcinoma. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 16, 259–266 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-009-9220-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-009-9220-7

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