Basic Research
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2006; 12(3): 415-419
Published online Jan 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i3.415
Analysis of p53 and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human gallbladder carcinoma for the determination of tumor vascularity
Yu Tian, Ren-Yu Ding, Ying-Hui Zhi, Ren-Xuan Guo, Shuo-Dong Wu
Yu Tian, Shuo-Dong Wu, Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
Ren-Yu Ding, Ren-Xuan Guo, Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
Ying-Hui Zhi, Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China
Correspondence to: Yu Tian, Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China. surgeon_ty@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-24-81188299
Received: May 31, 2005
Revised: June 28, 2005
Accepted: July 29, 2005
Published online: January 21, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To examine the expression of p53 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as well as microvessel count (MVC) and to investigate the role of VEGF as an angiogenic marker and the possible role of p53 in the regulation of angiogenesis in human gallbladder carcinoma.

METHODS: Surgically resected specimens of 49 gallbladder carcinomas were studied by immunohistochemical staining for p53 protein, VEGF, and factor VIII-related antigen. VEGF expression and mutant p53 expression were then correlated with Nevin stage, differentiation grade, MVC, and lymph node metastasis.

RESULTS: Positive p53 protein and VEGF expressions were found in 61.2% and 63.3% of tumors, respectively. p53 and VEGF staining status was identical in 55.1% of tumors. The Nevin staging of p53- or VEGF-positive tumors was significantly later than that of negative tumors. The MVC in p53- or VEGF-positive tumors was significantly higher than that in negative tumors, and MVC in both p53- and VEGF-negative tumors was significantly lower than that in the other subgroups.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that p53-VEGF pathway can regulate tumor angiogenesis in human gallbladder carcinoma. Combined analysis of p53 and VEGF expression might be useful for predicting the tumor vascularity of gallbladder cancer.

Keywords: Gallbladder neoplasms; Protein p53; Neovascularization; Pathology