Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related factors are believed to regulate angiogenesis, an essential event in the growth of solid tumors. In this study, we investigated the expression of VEGF-related factor genes (VEGF, VEGF-B, and VEGF-C) and their receptor genes (VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). There were significant differences in the expression level of VEGF, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 between RCC and the corresponding normal renal tissue. The expression level of VEGF in the tumor tissue significantly correlated with those of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. Expression levels VEGF-B and VEGF-C genes were not significantly different between RCC and normal renal tissue. A moderate to high protein expression for VEGF, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 was observed in both the tumor cells and the endothelial cells, whereas the protein expression was low for VEGF-B and VEGF-C. The present results suggested that VEGF and its receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 cooperates to play a crucial role in the angiogenesis of RCC, while VEGF-B and VEGFR-C may not. Furthermore, since VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 proteins were expressed in the tumor cells as well as in the endothelial cells, these receptors may also be responsible for the progression of RCC.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Carcinoma, Renal Cell / genetics*
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Carcinoma, Renal Cell / metabolism
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Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
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Endothelial Growth Factors / genetics*
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Endothelial Growth Factors / metabolism
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Female
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Gene Expression*
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Humans
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Immunohistochemistry
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Kidney / metabolism
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Kidney / pathology
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Kidney Neoplasms / genetics*
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Kidney Neoplasms / metabolism
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Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
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Lymphokines / genetics*
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Lymphokines / metabolism
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Protein Isoforms / genetics
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Protein Isoforms / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
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Receptors, Growth Factor / genetics*
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Receptors, Growth Factor / metabolism
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Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
Substances
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Endothelial Growth Factors
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Lymphokines
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Protein Isoforms
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Receptors, Growth Factor
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1