This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tien, Y.-W. Articles by Hsu, S.-M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tien, Y.-W. Articles by Hsu, S.-M.

Tumor Angiogenesis and Its Possible Role in Intravasation of Colorectal Epithelial Cells

Departments of Surgery [Y. W. T., K. J. C., P. H. L.], Pathology [Y. M. J., S. M. H.], and Gastroenterology [M. S. W., J. T. L.], National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan

Purpose: To determine whether an increase in tumor angiogenesis facilitates intravasation of colorectal epithelial cells, we compared intratumoral microvessel counts with the presence of circulating colorectal epithelial cells in the portal venous blood from patients with colorectal carcinomas.

Experimental Design: Circulating colorectal epithelial cells were detected by a reverse transcription-PCR assay to amplify guanylyl cyclase C (GCC) transcripts. The extent of tumor vascularization was quantitatively assessed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD31 antibody.

Results: Colorectal epithelial cells (as measured by GCC mRNA expression) were detected in the portal venous blood in 30 of 58 patients (52%). The mean (± SD) microvessel count in the tumors from patients with expression of GCC mRNA in their portal venous blood was 82.74 ± 24.97. The corresponding values in the tumors from patients without expression of GCC mRNA in portal venous blood was 65.96 ± 19. For each 10-microvessel increase per x200 field, the risk of colorectal epithelial cell presence in the portal venous blood increased 1.52-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.19–2.12; P = 0.005).

Conclusion: High intratumoral vessel count was noted to be a valuable factor for predicting the presence of colorectal epithelial cells in the portal venous blood.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Watanabe, K. Shibata, F. Kikkawa, H. Kajiyama, K. Ino, A. Hattori, M. Tsujimoto, and S. Mizutani Adipocyte-Derived Leucine Aminopeptidase Suppresses Angiogenesis in Human Endometrial Carcinoma via Renin-Angiotensin System Clin. Cancer Res., December 15, 2003; 9(17): 6497 - 6503. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.-W. Tien, P.-H. Lee, R.-H. Hu, S.-M. Hsu, and K.-J. Chang The Role of Gelatinase in Hepatic Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer Clin. Cancer Res., October 15, 2003; 9(13): 4891 - 4896. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]