[Prognostic value of tumor vascularity in gastric carcinoma]

To determine whether tumor angiogenesis correlates with progression of gastric carcinoma.

Microvessel counts (MVC) of 131 specimens resected from patients with gastric carcinoma were investigated by immunohistological staining with a monoclonal antibody against F-VIII RAg, counting the mean number of microvessels in the five areas of highest vascular density under 200 times magnification microscopy. Correlation among MVC, various clinicopathologic factors, and prognosis was studied.

MVC increased with TNM stage, the MVC of patients with advanced stage disease was significantly higher than that of early stage patients (P < 0.01). MVC was significantly higher in tumors with deep penetration (P < 0.05), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001) and distant metastasis (P < 0.05) than in those without invasion and such metastasis. The recurrence rate after curative resection in hypervascular group (MVC > or 16) was 58.4%, which was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in the hypovascular group (MVC < 16). Moreover, the prognosis of patients with a high MVC was significantly poorer than that of those with a low MVC. The probability of 5 year survival rate was estimated by P = e(1.6231-0.1036 x MVC)/1 + e(1.6231-0.1036 x MVC). Multivariate analysis indicated that MVC is an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer.

Angiogenesis within gastric cancer is an indicator of tumor behavior and may identify patients at higher risk for recurrence and poorer prognosis.