Journal of Gastrointestinal & Digestive System
Open Access

Review Article

VEGF-A and VEGF-R1/2 Expression: Critical Importance in Different Stages of Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Christian Prinz^*

Helios Klinikum Wuppertal, Medizinische Klinik, University of Witten, Germany

Corresponding Author:

Christian Prinz
Medizinische Klinik 2
Helios Klinikum Wuppertal
University of Witten/Herdecke
Germany, 42283 Wuppertal, Germany
Tel: 0049-202-896-2243
E-mail: christian.prinz@helios-kliniken.de

Received Date: November 18, 2013; Accepted Date: December 27, 2013; Published Date: January 07, 2014

Citation: Prinz C (2014) VEGF-A and VEGF-R1/2 Expression: Critical Importance in Different Stages of Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma. J Gastroint Dig Syst 3:160. doi: 10.4172/2161-069X.1000160

Copyright: © 2014 Prinz C. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

A key role for gastric micro vascularisation during cancer progression is the vascular growth factor VEGF-A. In gastric cancer, serum VEGF levels were also significantly higher in patients with advanced-stage cancer, higher lymph node ratio, and peritoneal invasion. Inhibition of VEGF or blockade of the corresponding VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2 receptors has been investigated in the treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma. Treatment of VEGF-antibodies or VEGF-receptor antibodies, however, had no significant effect on overall survival. Most recently, however, a new and fully humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody Ramucirumab (IMC-1121B) has been introduced, which targets the extracellular domain of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2). The antibody, increasing the median overall survival compared to placebo. Thus, a more detailed analysis of VEGF and VEGF receptor expression in early compared to advanced stages is needed. The current review focuses on previous findings and describes own results in early compared to advanced stages of gastric adenocarcinoma. A special focus is given on VEGF-A expression as well as the expression of the corresponding receptors VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2. Own data reveal that VEGF-R2 may be a better target since expression levels seem to be expressed at high levels in gastric cancer tissues

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