Background & objective: Tissue factor (TF), the primary physiologic initiator of coagulation cascade, is involved in the process of angiogenesis of various malignancies. This study was designed to investigate the correlation of TF expression to angiogenesis of gastric carcinoma, and to study its clinical significance.
Methods: The expression of TF and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 80 specimens of gastric carcinoma and 20 specimens of normal gastric tissue was detected by EnVision immunohistochemistry. Tumor microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated using anti-CD34 antibody as an endothelial marker with the same technique as well.
Results: Positive rates of TF and VEGF, and the mean value of MVD were significantly higher in gastric carcinoma than in normal gastric tissue (65.00% vs. 5.00%, P<0.01; 67.50% vs. 5.00%, P<0.05; and 36.14+/-9.94 vs. 12.10+/-3.27, P<0.05). TF expression was positively correlated with VEGF expression and MVD value (P<0.05). TF expression was correlated to the overall survival times of patients, TNM stage, and liver metastasis (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Overexpression of TF relates with angiogenesis and prognosis of gastric carcinoma.