Expression and Significance of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3 and PI3K/Akt in Gastric Carcinoma Tissue

Objective To examine the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K) and protein kinase B ( PKB or Akt) in gastric carcinoma and their adjacent normal tissues. Methods The mRNA expressions of VEGFR-3, PI3K and Akt in 36 cases of gastric carcinoma and their adjacent normal tissues were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) . The protein expressions of VEGFR-3, P-Akt in the same tissues were detected by immunohistochemical method. Results 1. RT-PCR the mRNA expression levels of VEGFR-3, PI3K and Akt in gastric carcinoma tissues were higher than those of the adjacent normal tissues (P<0.05) . VEGFR-3 mRNA expression was correlated with PI3K mRNA and Akt mRNA expression(P<0.05) . The mRNA expression level of VEGFR-3 was related TNM stage, depth of invasion, lymphnode metastasis and distant metastasis (P<0.05). 2. Immunohistochemical the protein expression levels of VEGFR-3 and P-Akt in gastric carcinoma tissues were higher than those of the adjacent normal tissues (P<0.05). VEGFR-3 protein expression was correlated with P-Akt protein expression (P<0.05) . Conclusion The tumors with VEGFR-3 expression are more likely to have lymphnode metastasis VEGFR-3 is an important predictor for the prognosis of gastric carcinoma. The expression of VEGFR-3 and PI3K/Akt have some relations.