Angiogenesis as an unfavorable factor related to lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer

Background: Recent studies suggest that angiogenesis enhances tumor growth and metastasis. Lymph node metastasis influences the prognosis and selection of treatment modalities in cancers. In this study, the authors investigated the correlation between angiogenesis and clinicopathologic features to determine whether angiogenesis correlated with lymph node metastasis in early-stage gastric cancer. Methods: A total of 97 specimens from patients with early gastric cancer were studied by immunohistochemical methods using anti-Factor VIII-related antigen antibody. Results: Tumor size was significantly correlated with microvessel count, which increased as tumor size increased. Microvessel counts from tumors with lymphatic vessel invasion, lymph node metastasis, and submucosal invasion were significantly higher than those without. Furthermore, microvessel count was an independent factor that influenced lymph node metastasis (P = .0016) by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: In the early stage of gastric carcinoma, angiogenesis is an independent factor that impacts on lymph node metastasis.