Inducing effects of hepatocyte growth factor on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human colorectal carcinoma cells through MEK and PI3K signaling pathways

Background Vascular endothelial growth factor plays a key role in human colorectal carcinoma invasion and metastasis. However, the regulation mechanism remains unknown. Recent studies have shown that several cytokines can regulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in tumor cells. In this study, we investigated whether hepatocyte growth factor can regulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in colorectal carcinoma cells. Methods Hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in human serum were measured by ELISA. The mRNA level of vascular endothelial growth factor was analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR. Western blot assay was performed to evaluate levels of c-Met and several other proteins involved in the MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways in colorectal carcinoma cells. Results Serum hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor were significantly increased in colorectal carcinoma subjects. In vitro extraneous hepatocyte growth factor markedly increased protein and mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in colorectal carcinoma cells. Hepatocyte growth factor induced phosphorylation of c-Met, ERK1/2 and AKT in a dose-dependent manner. Specific inhibitors on MEK and PI3K inhibited the hepatocyte growth factor-induced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in colorectal carcinoma cells.Conclusion This present study indicates that hepatocyte growth factor upregulates the expression of vascular endothelial arowth factor in colorectal carcinoma cells via the MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT sianalina Pathways.

Esophagogastric malignancies detected in a tertiary surgical center endoscopy unit from Turkey: a descriptive study

Background:The most common symptoms of upper gastrointestinal(UGI)diseases are epigastric pain and heartburn,nausea and vomiting,regurgitation and dysphagia.Endoscopic examination is the most reliable method for assessing UGI evaluation.Methods:Malignant tumors detected in UGI endoscopies performed between Dec 31,2015 and Jan 1,2011were included in our study.Age,gender,indication for endoscopy,tumor site,tumor type,stage of disease and type of treatment data were recorded.Results:According to the analysis of five-year patient data;39(1.17%)of 3,309 cases had malignancy in the UGI endoscopy.The average age of malignancy detected cases were 63.4 years(range,33–88 years).In the malignancy positive group;35(1%)cases had gastric and 4(0.12%)cases had esophagus tumors.According to the gastric localization of tumors,12 of cases were distal,10 were proximal,7 were middle and 4 were linitis plastica.Two of the cases had previous gastric surgery and the gastric malignancy of these cases was localized at the gastrojejunostomy site.The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain,anemia,dyspepsia,bleeding,weight loss,obstruction and dysphagia in patients with gastric cancer.Two(5.7%)of the cases had previous gastrectomies because of benign causes.Malignant tumors were detected in the remnant tissue of these cases.The percentage of over 50-year-old patients was 89.7%in UGI malignancy detected patients.Three percent of gastric cancers were stage I,18%of them were stage II,25%of them were stage III and 53%of the cases were stage IV.Seventy-five percent of esophageal cancer cases had systemic metastases.Conclusions:Malignity is rarely detected among the patients from general surgery outpatient clinic,on whom UGI endoscopy is performed.But it is not different from the literature.Most of the malignancies are at advanced stage.In older age patients,endoscopy should be recommended even there are nonspecific symptoms.In the presence of alarm symptoms,UGI endoscopy should be recommended without considering the age.