Significance of microvessel count in gastric carcinoma

摘要

AIMS To investigate the correlation between microvessel count and various clinicopathologic factors and prognosis of gastric carcinoma using immunohisto-chemical staining with anti-factor-Ⅷ-related antigen (F-Ⅷ RAg) antibody. METHODS A total of 128 specimens resected from patients with gastric carcinoma were investigated by immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody against F-Ⅷ RAg. Correlations between the microvessel count (the mean number of microvessel in the five areas of highest vascular density at 200 x magnification) and various clinicopathologic factors and prognosis of 86 cases with complete follow-up data were studied. RESULTS The mean microvessel count of all patients was 16.5 ± 8.5, the microvessel count increased with histological stage and was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis than those without such metastasis (18.3 ± 8.7 vs 13.8 ± 7.4, P < 0.01). In addition, the prognosis of 86 patients who were followed up for at least 5 years after surgery was significantly worse in patients who had a tumor with a high microvessel count (16 or more) than in those with a low microvessel count (less than 16), 5-year survival rates was 42.5% and 58.7%, respectively, (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Microvessel count may be a useful prognostic indicator in patients with gastric carcinoma.