• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.44.1-44.10
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• 2023

Tumor hypoxia, oxygen deprivation state, occurs in most cancers and promotes angiogenesis, enhancing the potential for metastasis. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family genes play crucial roles in tumorigenesis by promoting angiogenesis. To investigate the malignant processes triggered by hypoxia-induced angiogenesis across pan-cancers, we comprehensively analyzed the relationships between the expression of VEGF family genes and hypoxic microenvironment based on integrated bioinformatics methods. Our results suggest that the expression of VEGF family genes differs significantly among various cancers, highlighting their heterogeneity effect on human cancers. Across the 33 cancers, VEGFB and VEGFD showed the highest and lowest expression levels, respectively. The survival analysis showed that VEGFA and placental growth factor (PGF) were correlated with poor prognosis in many cancers, including kidney renal cell and liver hepatocellular carcinoma. VEGFC expression was positively correlated with glioma and stomach cancer. VEGFA and PGF showed distinct positive correlations with hypoxia scores in most cancers, indicating a potential correlation with tumor aggressiveness. The expression of miRNAs targeting VEGF family genes, including hsa-miR-130b-5p and hsa-miR-940, was positively correlated with hypoxia. In immune subtypes analysis, VEGFC was highly expressed in C3 (inflammatory) and C6 (transforming growth factor β dominant) across various cancers, indicating its potential role as a tumor promotor. VEGFC expression exhibited positive correlations with immune infiltration scores, suggesting low tumor purity. High expression of VEGFA and VEGFC showed favorable responses to various drugs, including BLU-667, which abrogates RET signaling, an oncogenic driver in liver and thyroid cancers. Our findings suggest potential roles of VEGF family genes in malignant processes related with hypoxia-induced angiogenesis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.5049-5053
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• 2014

Background: To investigate the expression of CD44v3 and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and their relationship with lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the uterine cervix. Materials and Methods: Expression of CD44v3 and VEGF-C was analyzed in 109 cases of cervical SCC by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The relationship was analyzed between expression and the patient age, histological differentiation, formation of tumor emboli in lymphoid vessels, lymph node metastasis, FIGO staging, and TNM classification. Results: Expression rates for both CD44v3 and VEGF-C were 43.1% in cervical SCC. The cells with positive immunohistochemical staining of CD44v3 were distributed mainly around the keratin pearls in well differentiated carcinomas, but distributed diffusely in the moderately and poorly differentiated lesions. VEGF-C was found stained positively in most of the tumor cells. There were differences in expression between normal epithelium and atypical hyperplasia as well as carcinoma. Both CD44v3 and VEGF-C were found to be associated positively with lymph node metastasis and TNM classification (both p=0.000). Neither CD44v3 nor VEGF-C was found to be associated with patient age, histological differentiation, formation of tumor emboli in lymphoid vessels and FIGO staging. CD44v3 was found to be associated with VEGF-C positively (p=0.000). Conclusions: Abnormal expression of CD44v3 and VEGF-C is associated closely with the lymph node metastasis in cervical SCC, and these agents may cooperate in carcinogenesis and development of metastatic lesions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.781-786
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• 2004

None of the currently available strategies for diagnosis and management of the pleural effusion are ideal. We tried to evaluate the validity of VEGF in differential diagnosis of the pleural effusion and find out if VEGF were correlated with the established markers. Material and Method: 35 patients with pleural effusion were divided into malignant effusion (n=10), benign effusion (n=5), infectious effusion (n=10), and pneumothorax (n=10), respectively. The pleural fluids from each group were examined for differential cell count, chemistry (glucose, protein, LDH, and ADA), and VEGF. Result: Glucose level was lower in infectious effusion compared with benign effusion (60.5$\pm$36.09 mg/dL vs. 162.0$\pm$19.80 mg/dL, p=0.011). ADA level in infectious effusion was higher compared with malignant effusion (87.9$\pm$42.62 IU/L vs. 27.7$\pm$31.04 IU/L, p=0.024). Malignant effusion (p=0.026) and infectious effusion (p=0.048) showed significantly higher level of VEGF than that of pneumothorax. VEGF level was substantially higher in malignant effusion compared with benign effusion (364.38$\pm$433.83 pg/dL vs. 53.3$\pm$22.20 pg/dL, p=NS). The pleural VEGF level did not correlate with the other markers. Conclusion: The measuring pleural VEGF may be helpful in diagnosing malignant and infectious pleural effusion that increase angiogenesis and vascular permeability, but it can not discriminate between the two. The pleural VEGF may not be correlated with the established markers. The measurement of pleural VEGF might discriminate between malignant and benign effusion.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2001

Purpose: The p53 protein is a tumor supressor gene, and its mutation is associated with biologic aggressiveness. CD44v6, one of the CD44 family, is a cell surface glycoprotein that plays a role in cancer invasion and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is another recently identified growth factor with significant angiogenic properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate p53, CD44v6, and VEGF expressions to determine whether degree of expression was related to pathological parameters such as Lauren's classification, depth of invasion, and lymph node metastasis. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical stains of p53, CD44v6, and VEGF in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 125 gastric adenocarcinomas were done. Results: The overall expression rates of p53, CD44v6, and VEGF were $54.4\%$ (68/125), $36.8\%$ (46/125), and $48.0\%$ (60/125), respectively. The p53, not CD44v6 and VEGF was higher in intestinal-type gastric carcinomas by Lauren's classification. The expressions of p53, CD44v6, and VEGF were statistically correlated with depth of tumor invasion. The expression of CD44v6 was higher in the lymph node metastatic group than in the negative group. The p53 expression was significantly associated with VEGF expression. Conclusions: These data suggest that the expressions of p53, CD44v6, and VEGF are biologically related to malignancy. The p53 and CD44v6 expressions are independent; however, p53 gene mutation is one of the contributing factors to VEGF expression in gastric adenocarcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.737-741
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• 2014

Background: In recent years a wide variety of flavonoids or polyphenolic substances have been reported to possess substantial anti-carcinogenic and antimutagenic activities. Grape proanthocyanidins (GPC) are considered as good examples for which there is evidence of potential roles as anti-carcinogenic agents. Methods: A xenograft model was established using H22 cells subcutaneously injected into mice and used to assess different concentrations of grape proanthocyanidins (GPC) and Endostar. Treatments were maintained for 10 days, then levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) were examined by immunohistochemistry, while VEGF mRNA was determined by real-time PCR in tumor tissue. Results: The expression of MVD and VEGF decreased gradually as the concentration of GPC increased.There was a significant positive correlation between MVD and VEGF. Conclusions: These results suggest that GPC restrains the growth of tumor, possibly by inhibiting tumour angiogenesis.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.265-269
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• 2003

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent regulator of normal and abnormal angiogenesis. Recent literature suggests that VEGF has several activities that may amplify acute inflammation reactions. Dysregulated VEGF expression has been implicated as a major contributor to the development of a number of common disease pathologies. One of common mutations in the 3'- untranslated region of the VEGF gene, a C\longrightarrowT exchange at nucleotide position 936, has been found to be significantly associated with VEGF expression levels in the plasma from a previous Austrian study. The frequency of this mutation could be important genetic information regarding tumor growth and angiogenesis related diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency distribution of this mutation in general Korean population. We examined the statistical data from 207 healthy Korean subjects. Observed numbers (%) of 936T were 28.5 (CT) and 3.9 (TT), respectively. The mutant allele frequency of 936T in Korean subjects was 0.18, which appeared somewhat higher than that in Austrian subjects.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.2925-2929
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• 2012

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.533-538
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• 2020

Notch signaling has been identified as a critical pathway in gastric cancer (GC) progression and metastasis, and inhibition of Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4), a Notch ligand, is suggested as a potent therapeutic approach for GC. Expression of both DLL4 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) was similar in the malignant tissues of GC patients. We focused on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a known angiogenesis regulator and activator of DLL4. Here, we used ABL001, a DLL4/VEGF bispecific therapeutic antibody, and investigated its therapeutic effect in GC. Treatment with human DLL4 therapeutic antibody (anti-hDLL4) or ABL001 slightly reduced GC cell growth in monolayer culture; however, they significantly inhibited cell growth in 3D-culture, suggesting a reduction in the cancer stem cell population. Treatment with anti-hDLL4 or ABL001 also decreased GC cell migration and invasion. Moreover, the combined treatment of irinotecan with anti-hDLL4 or ABL001 showed synergistic antitumor activity. Both combination treatments further reduced cell growth in 3D-culture as well as cell invasion. Interestingly, the combination treatment of ABL001 with irinotecan synergistically reduced the GC burden in both xenograft and orthotopic mouse models. Collectively, DLL4 inhibition significantly decreased cell motility and stem-like phenotype and the combination treatment of DLL4/VEGF bispecific therapeutic antibody with irinotecan synergistically reduced the GC burden in mouse models. Our data suggest that ABL001 potentially represents a potent agent in GC therapy. Further biochemical and pre-clinical studies are needed for its application in the clinic.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.215-221
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• 2015

Glucocorticoids are known to have anti-inflammatory effect. To investigate whether corticosterone pretreatment enhances or not lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of inflammatory mediators, RAW 264.7 cells were pretreated with various concentrations of corticosterone for 24 h and then cultured without corticosterone in the presence or absence of LPS. Our results demonstrated that LPS remarkably increased production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and NO (nitric oxide). Corticosterone pretreatment significantly attenuated LPS-induced production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and VEGF, while significantly enhanced IL-6 and NO. These findings suggest that corticosterone pretreatment may contribute to LPS-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages via pro- and anti-inflammatory imbalance of inflammatory mediators.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2015

Background Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) induces angiogenesis and collagen synthesis to promote tissue healing. Although acetic acid soaks normalize alkali wound conditions to raise tissue oxygen saturation and deconstruct the biofilms of chronic wounds, frequent dressing changes are required. Methods Combined use of NPWT and acetic acid irrigation was assessed in the treatment of chronic wounds, instilling acetic acid solution (1%) beneath polyurethane membranes twice daily for three weeks under continuous pressure (125 mm Hg). Clinical photographs, pH levels, cultures, and debrided fragments of wounds were obtained pre- and posttreatment. Tissue immunostaining (CD31, Ki-67, and CD45) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], vascular endothelial growth factor receptor [VEGFR]; procollagen; hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha [HIF-1-alpha]; matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-1,-3,-9; and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase [TIMP]) were also performed. Results Wound sizes tended to diminish with the combined therapy, accompanied by drops in wound pH (weakly acidic or neutral) and less evidence of infection. CD31 and Ki-67 immunostaining increased (P<0.05) post-treatment, as did the levels of VEGFR, procollagen, and MMP-1 (P<0.05), whereas the VEGF, HIF-1-alpha, and MMP-9/TIMP levels declined (P<0.05). Conclusions By combining acetic acid irrigation with negative-pressure dressings, both the pH and the size of chronic wounds can be reduced and infections be controlled. This approach may enhance angiogenesis and collagen synthesis in wounds, restoring the extracellular matrix.