Nodal metastasis is considered an important modality for the dissemination and staging of gastric cancer. Accurate staging of nodal metastasis improves prognostication and clinical treatment. However, clinical studies have failed to clarify a few issues regarding nodal metastasis from gastric cancer. In this review, we summarize and analyze new findings on the study of nodal metastasis from gastric cancer, and present the current opinions.

Objective To introduce the possible effect of endogenous angiogenesis inhibitive factors in the therapy of hepatocarcinoma.Methods Recent relevant literatures were reviewed. Results Endogenous angiogenesis inhibitive factors can suppress the growth of tumor blood vessels,which might head off the development and metastasis of hepatocarcinoma effectively.This might provide a new approach to the therapy of hepatocarcinoma.Conclusion Recent studies on endogenous angiogenesis inhibitive factors will be helpful in the prevention and treatment of hepatocarcinoma.

Objective To introduce the effect of estrogen on the vascular endothelial cells and on the development of Buerger's disease. Methods The relative papers were summarized with and made a literature reviewing. Results The physiological level estrogen in vivo has protective effects on the vascular endothelial cells; however, the high level of estrogen in vivo can hurt the vascular endothelial cells,which is an important factor in the development of Buerger's disease. Conclusion Investigation of the mechanism of high level of estrogen in Buerger's patients would have a favor effect on the prevention and treatment of Buerger's disease.

The mechanism of gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. The diagnosis and treatment of GC undergo rapid development, but the prognosis of the patients remains dismal. The key procedure to improve overall survival is early detection and treatment. However, classic tumor markers have several limitations in clinical practice because of their low sensitivity and specificity. Given the expansion of high throughput technologies, investigators have attained considerable progress in obtaining the benefits of molecular biomarkers through genomics and proteomics analysis. These findings provide new directions for the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage GC. Markers from body fluids, which can be easily obtained , are increasingly gaining attention. This article summarizes the progress of the investigation of molecular biomarkers in early GC using body fluids.

Lymph node metastasis is one of the important factors influencing the prognosis of gastric cancer patients. Accurate and reasonable lymph node staging is greatly significant in evaluating the course of the disease, in estimating the prognosis, and in making a reasonable treatment plan. Local and international research institutions recently found that new staging methods for lymph nodes associated with the prognosis of gastric cancer (e.g., metastastic lymph nodes ratio, log odds of positive lymph nodes, negative lymph node count, and lymph node micrometastasis) can also predict the prognosis of gastric cancer patients. In this paper, the development history, current status of lymph node staging of gastric cancer, and research progress on the new staging methods for lymph nodes as-sociated with the prognosis of gastric cancer are reviewed.

Objective:The influences of detection of the preoperative level of serum CA19-9 were analyzed on the prognosis of gastric cancer patients. Methods:A total of 513 gastric patients with preoperative CA19-9 detection were enrolled and underwent radical gastrectomy in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2003 to October 2008. Clinico-pathological variables associated with the CA19-9 level were analyzed, and the prognostic value of CA19-9 was evaluated. Results:Eighty-six (16.8%) patients manifested an increased CA19-9 level, which was associated with ageing, Borrmann typesⅢandⅣ, undifferentiated type, and advanced T stage. The five-year survival rates were 45.7%and 25.6%for patients with normal (<39 U/mL) and significantly high CA 19-9 levels (≥39 U/mL), respectively. Differences in survival rates between the patient groups were statistically significant (P<0.001). Tumor-node-metastasis (TNM)-stratified analysis revealed a difference in overall survival for patients with stageⅢtumors. The significantly increased CA19-9 level was an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients after radical surgery based on multivariate analysis. Conclusion:Detection of preoperative level of serum CA19-9 could provide important information for prognostic evaluation of gastric cancer patients. CA19-9 was a potential independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients after surgery.

The lymphatic vessel is a crucial pathway for tumor metastasis. The discovery of more lymphatic growth factors and lymphatic vessel markers signifies the significant progress of studies on the role of vascular endothelial growth factor-C/D (VEGF-C/D) and one of its specific receptors in the mechanisms of tumor lymph-angiogenesis and lymph node metastasis. VEGF-C/D expression is related to the clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer, including lymph metastasis, micro-lymphatic vessel density in the paraneo-plastic tissues, survival rate, and prognosis. Experimental animal models and in vitro experiments show that suppression of VEGF-C/D expression is beneficial in gastric cancer treatment. This article provides an overview of the association between VEGF-C/D and lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.

Autophagy is the process through which cells utilize lysosomal hydrolases to degrade cytoplasmic misfolded proteins and damaged organelles. This process allows cells to reuse degradation products and degrade harmful substances to maintain intracellu-lar stability. The autophagy level is low at the normal cell state. Cells under unfavorable conditions activate autophagy to eliminate ad-verse factors. An increasing number of studies have shown that autophagy plays important roles in tumorigenesis, tumor progression, metastasis, relapse, and drug resistance. However, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. This review summarizes the expression of gastric cancer cell-related autophagy genes and the mechanism by which autophagy promotes gastric cancer cell death. Autophagy has an important application prospect in treating gastric cancer.

10 000mL. Six cases developed ascites postoperatively. There was no mortality or bile duct injury. The average hospital stay was 15d.Conclusions Intraoperative bleeding and bile duct injuries are the major dangers of (cholecystectomy) in patients with liver cirrhosis, and packing of gallbladder bed with pedicle of greater omentum is a satisfactory method of hemostasis.

Objective To evaluate the expression of STAT3, VEGF and Survivin in human gastric carcinoma and its clinicopathological significance. Methods The expression of STAT3, VEGF, survivin was determined by immunohistochemical staining of specimens from 53 cases undergoing radical gastrectomy and 53 cases of normal gastric mucous membranae. We evaluated the relationship between expression of these proteins and various clinicopothological factors. Results The expression rate of STAT3, VEGF and survivin in 53 gastric carcinoma tissues was 58%, 62% and 74%, respectively, which was significantly higher than those in the normal group(P <0. 01). STAT3 expression correlated with VEGF(r =0. 608 ,P <0. 01) ,survivin(r = 0. 451, P = 0. 001). Positive STAT3, VEGF staining was significantly associated with tumor size, Lauren's classification,lymph node metastasis and clinical staging(P < 0. 05). Survivin staining was significantly associated with Lauren's classification, lymph node metastasis and clinical staging(P <0. 05). Multivariate analysis revealed STAT3 expression and lymph node metastasis were independently prognostic factors of poor survival. Conclusion VEGF, survivin possibly regulated by STAT3 leads to tumor angiogenesis and anti-apoptosis. The expression of STAT3 is an independent prognostic factors in gastric carcinoma.