Abstract
4/2007
vol. 2
Review paper
The role of growth factors in pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Part III: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs)
Przegląd Gastroenterologiczny 2007; 2 (4): 181–184
Online publish date: 2007/08/30
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) binds with three receptors (VEGFR). VEGFR-1 and 2 are situated mainly in the vascular endothelium whereas VEGFR-3 is located in thelymphatic endothelium. Expression of VEGF is observed in cancer cells in 56-93% of specimens derived from surgically excised pancreatic tumours. There is a correlation between VEGF expression in cancer cells and vascular density in cancer tissue. Some authors have observed a relationship between VEGF expression in cancer cells and grading, staging, liver metastases and survival. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family consists of polypeptic ligands IGF-I and IGF-II, 2 types of cell membrane receptors, IGF-IR and IGF-IIR, and 6 binding proteins (IGFBP). Overexpression of IGF and its receptor IGF-IR was observed both in pancreatic cancer cells and in adjacent connective tissue. In pancreatic cancer cells also overexpression of IGF-IIR was demonstrated.
Keywords
pancreatic cancer, vascular endothelial growth factor, insulin-like growth factor
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