VEGF, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 Protein Expressions in GIST Tissues

He Miao1, Chen Gang1, Zhao He-zhao1*, Sun Hao1*, Fan Jing2 and Wang Zi-wei3

1ChongQing University Cancer Hospital, ChongQing, China
2Department of Emergency, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
3Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China

^*Correspondance to: Zhao He-zhao 

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Abstract:

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumors originating in
gastrointestinal tract. Surgical resection and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) treatment are the
standard of care for GISTs. But it’s still hard for clinicians if an unresectable GIST is not sensitive
to TKIs. Angiogenesis is a crucial event for tumor growth and it is regulated predominantly by
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFRs). In this paper, we perform
Immunohistochemistry to analyze the VEGF, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 protein expressions in 44 pairs
of human GIST and matched control tissues. We find almost all the GIST tissue express VEGFR2
protein positively, and GIST tissues express higher levels of VEGF and VEGFR2 proteins than
matched control tissues (P<0.05, Wilcoxon sign-rank test). This result is consistent with findings
on other tumors. But the expression of VEGFR3 is very little in GIST. And there is no association
between VEGF/VEGFR2 expressions and demographic variables of GIST tissues. We think the
enhanced expression of VEGF, VEGFR2 in GIST is probable a universal phenomenon. But whether
VEGF/VEGFR2 is an underlying therapy target for GIST need more research to analyze.

Keywords:

VEGF; VEGFR2; VEGFR3; GIST

Cite the Article:

Miao H, Gang C, He-zhao Z, Hao S, Jing F, Wang ZW. VEGF, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 Protein Expressions in GIST Tissues. World J Surg Surgical Res. 2020; 3: 1215..