Clinical Research
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2007; 13(33): 4473-4479
Published online Sep 7, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i33.4473
Expression of Angiopoietin-1, 2 and 4 and Tie-1 and 2 in gastrointestinal stromal tumor, leiomyoma and schwannoma
Toshiyuki Nakayama, Maki Inaba, Shinji Naito, Yumi Mihara, Shiro Miura, Mitsuru Taba, Ayumi Yoshizaki, Chun-Yang Wen, Ichiro Sekine
Toshiyuki Nakayama, Maki Inaba, Yumi Mihara, Shiro Miura, Mitsuru Taba, Ayumi Yoshizaki, Ichiro Sekine, Department of Tumor and Diagnostic Pathology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
Shinji Naito, Division of Pathology, Research Laboratory, National Ureshino Medical Center, Saga 843-0301, Japan
Chun-Yang Wen, Department of Digestive Disease, Affiliated hospital of Beihua University, Jilin 132011, Jilin Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Toshiyuki Nakayama, MD, Department of Tumor and Diagnostic Pathology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan. toshi-n@nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-95-849-7107 Fax: +81-95-849-7108
Received: March 23, 2007
Revised: April 15, 2007
Accepted: April 18, 2007
Published online: September 7, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the role of angiopoietin (Ang) -1, -2 and -4 and its receptors, Tie-1 and -2, in the growth and differentiation of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

METHODS: Thirty GISTs, seventeen leiomyomas and six schwannomas were examined by immunohistochemistry in this study.

RESULTS: Ang-1, -2 and -4 proteins were expressed in the cytoplasm of tumor cells, and Tie-1 and -2 were expressed both in the cytoplasm and on the membrane of all tumors. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that 66.7% of GISTs (20 of 30), 76.5% of leiomyomas (13 of 17) and 83.3% of schwannomas (5 of 6) were positive for Ang-1. 83.3% of GISTs (25 of 30), 82.4% of leiomyomas (14 of 17) and 100% of schwannomas (6 of 6) were positive for Ang-2. 36.7% of GISTs (11 of 30), 58.8% of leiomyomas (10 of 17) and 83.3% of schwannomas (5 of 6) were positive for Ang-4. 60.0% of GISTs (18 of 30), 82.4% of leiomyomas and 100% of schwannomas (6 of 6) were positive for Tie-1. 10.0% of GISTs (3 of 30), 94.1% of leiomyomas (16 of 17) and 33.3% of schwannomas (2 of 6) were positive for Tie-2. Tie-2 expression was statistically different between GISTs and leiomyomas (P < 0.001). However, there was no correlation between expression of angiopoietin pathway components and clinical risk categories.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the angiopoietin pathway plays an important role in the differentiation of GISTs, leiomyomas and schwannomas.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors, Leiomyomas, Schwannomas