Clinical Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 15, 2003; 9(12): 2817-2820
Published online Dec 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i12.2817
Correlation of P-glycoprotein expression with poor vascularization in human gallbladder carcinomas
Yu Tian, Li-Li Zhu, Ren-Xuan Guo, Chui-Feng Fan
Yu Tian, Ren-Xuan Guo, Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
Li-Li Zhu, Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
Chui-Feng Fan, Department of Pathology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Yu Tian, Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China. tianyu5460@21cn.com
Telephone: +86-24-23256666-6237 Fax: +86-24-23896804
Received: June 5, 2003
Revised: June 13, 2003
Accepted: July 24, 2003
Published online: December 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the relationship between the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the degree of vascularization in gallbladder carcinomas.

METHODS: P-gp was stained with streptavidin-peroxidase complex immunohistochemical method in routine paraffin-embedded sections of gallbladder carcinomas. Microvessel counts (MVC) were determined using factor-VIII-related antigens.

RESULTS: The average MVC in 32 cases of gallbladder carcinomas was (34 ± 10)/HP. The value of MVC was closely correlated with Nevin staging and tumor differentiation (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). The total expression rate of P-gp was 62.5%. The P-gp expression rate in cases of Nevin staging S1-S3 (78.6%) was higher than that of S4-S5 (50.0%) with no statistical significance. The P-gp expression rate was not correlated with tumor differentiation or pathologic types. The value of MVC in P-gp (+) cases was markedly lower than that in P-gp (-) cases (P < 0.01). The positive rate of P-gp was significantly higher in cases of smaller MVC than those of bigger MVC (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: MVC may be used as one of the important parameters to reflect the biological behaviors of gallbladder carcinomas. As a major cause of drug resistance, the overexpression of P-gp is closely correlated with the poor vascularization in gallbladder carcinomas.

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