Prognostic significance of expression of thymidine phosphorylase and vascular endothelial growth factor in human gastric carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Both thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are well-characterized inducers of angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of these antigens and their prognostic significance in gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Medical records of 102 patients with stage II tumor were retrospectively reviewed. Primary tumors were studied by immunohistochemical staining for dThdPase and VEGF. RESULTS: Positive dThdPase expression was observed in 52 (51%) tumors and positive VEGF expression in 53 (52%) tumors. There was a significant correlation between the positive expression of VEGF and lymphatic invasion. The patients with dThdPase-positive carcinoma showed a significantly worse prognosis than those with dThdPase-negative carcinoma in stage II. Moreover, the frequency of hepatic recurrence was significantly higher in the patients with dThdPase-positive and VEGF-positive tumors than in those with dThdPase-negative and VEGF-negative tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Combination analysis of dThdPase and VEGF expression in gastric carcinoma appears to be well-characterized inductors of prognosis and metastasis.