Antiangiogenic Factors in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancers have been known to secrete the proangiogenic cytokine VEGF in vitro and in vivo. Tumor VEGF expression is correlated with the severity of disease in patients with gastric cancer and some authors have suggested using circulating VEGF as a prognostic factor or tumor marker.In addition to producing proangiogenic cytokines, recent data demonstrate that tumors can produce antiangiogenic cytokine as well. It has been suggested that, in humans, the generation of antiangiogenic compounds in the presence of a primary tumor suppresses the growth of distant metastases. This phenomenon has been demonstrated in mice and in patients with clear cell renal cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. However, the presence of endogenous antiangiogenic cytokines in patients with gastric cancer has not been reported.

Inclusion criteria

• Histologic diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma
• No other forms of cancer therapy, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy for at least 3 weeks before the enrollment in study
• Performance status of 0, 1, 2 on the ECOG criteria
• ASA class I, II
• Patient compliance that allow adequate follow up
• Informed consent from patient or patient's relative.

Exclusion criteria

• Second primary malignancy
• EMR (Endoscopic mucosal resection) indication
• Laparoscopic gastrectomy
• Radiologic or clinical evidence of metastasis