Tumor angiogenesis as a predictor of recurrence in gastric carcinoma.

We investigated the correlation between tumor angiogenic activity and progression of gastric carcinoma using immunohistochemical staining with antifactor VIII-related antigen (F-VIII RAg) antibody. One hundred twenty-four specimens resected from patients with gastric carcinoma were investigated by staining with a monoclonal antibody against F-VIII RAg. Correlations between the microvessel count (the mean number of microvessels in the five areas of highest vascular density at 200 times magnification), various clinicopathologic factors, and prognosis were studied. The microvessel count increased with histologic stage. The microvessel count was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastases than in those without such metastases. Moreover, in patients with a high microvessel count (> or = 16), prognosis was significantly poorer than in those with low count (< 16). Multivariate analysis indicated that the microvessel count is an independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer. According to the mode of recurrence, the frequency of hepatic metastases was significantly increased in patients with a high count. Microvessel count may be a good prognostic indicator and may be useful as a predictor for the mode of recurrence in patients with gastric carcinoma.