OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and survivin protein in human gastric carcinoma,and to evaluate their clinical implications.

METHODSThe expressions of VEGF-C and survivin protein in tumor tissues,matched para- tumor tissues from 97 cases with gastric cancer and normal tissues form 20 normal controls,were determined by immunohistochemistry. Their relationships with clinicopathological parameters were analyzed.

RESULTSThe positive rate of VEGF-C and survivin protein in tumor tissues (66.0% and 57.2%) was significantly higher than those in matched para-tumor tissues normal tissues (P< 0.05). There were no significant differences in VEGF-C expression considering tumor size,localization,histological grade,venous invasion,and distant metastasis (P > 0.05), while its expression was correlated with serosal infiltration, lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage III-IV (P< 0.05). The survivin expression was significantly related with serosal infiltration,lymphatic invasion, regional lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis, and TNM stage III- IV (P< 0.05), but not with histological grade, localization,venous invasion,and tumor size (P > 0.05). The 1, 3 and 5-year survival rates of the patients with positive VEGF-C or survivin protein were significantly lower than those of the patients with negative VEGF-C or survivin (P< 0.05), respectively. In additional,the expression of VEGF-C was positively correlated with survivin expression in gastric carcinoma (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of VEGF-C and/or survivin may be indicators for poor prognosis of gastric carcinoma.