Background/aims: To observe the expression of differentiation inhibiting factor 1 (DIF1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and explore the relation between them and microvessel density (MVD) in gastric cancer tissue.
Methodology: The expression of DIF1, VEGF, CD34 and MVD in gastric cancer and peri-cancerous tissues was qualitatively analyzed with immunohistochemistry. The protein expression of DIF1 and VEGF in gastric cancer and peri-cancerous tissue was semi-quantitatively analyzed with Western blot.
Results: The expression of DIF1 and VEGF, and MVD were significantly higher in gastric cancer tissue than in peri-cancerous tissue (p<0.05). MVD was significantly higher in DIF-positive gastric cancer tissue than in DIF-negative gastric cancer tissue (p<0.001).
Conclusions: In gastric cancer, DIF1 expression is related to VEGF expression and MVD. DIF1 may promote angiogenesis in gastric cancer.