The significance of the microlymphangiogenesis, microangiogenesis, and combined detection of programmed cell death-1 protein (PD-1)/ki67 in gastric cancer tissues

PurposeTo investigate the relationship between the microlymphangiogenesis, microangiogenesis, and combined detection of the programmed cell death-1 protein (PD-1)/ki67 in patients with gastric cancer as well as the disease prognosis.MethodsImmunohistochemistry was used to detect the microlymphatic density (MLD) and microvessel density (MVD) in the central and peripheral zones in 92 cases of gastric cancer, along with the number of PD-1- and ki67-positive tumor cells.ResultsThe central zone of the gastric cancer tissue contained fewer atretic cord-like lymphatic vessels than the peripheral zone, while the peripheral zone contained an increased number of lymphatic vessels compared with the central zone. In most cases, the lumen was also dilated. Compared with the MLD in the peripheral zone, the MLD in central zone was significantly decreased. Compared with the number of PD-1-positive cells in the peripheral zone, the number of PD-1-positive cells in the central zone was significantly decreased, and compared with the number of ki67-positive cells in the peripheral zone. The differences in the microlymphangiogenesis, microangiogenesis, and the number of PD-1- and ki67-positive cells among the different histological types were not statistically significant. The microlymphangiogenesis, microangiogenesis, and PD-1- and ki67-positive cells were significantly decreased in the gastric cancer tissues from the patients in stages T1 and T2 compared with the gastric cancer tissues from the patients in stages T3 and T4.ConclusionsThe detection of the MLD and MVD as well as the positive expression of PD-1 and ki67 in gastric cancer tissue are important reference indicators for judging the prognosis of gastric cancer.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between microlymphangiogenesis, microangiogenesis, and combined detection of PD-1/ki67 in gastric cancer patients and their disease prognosis. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect microlymphatic density (MLD) and microvessel density (MVD) in different zones of gastric cancer tissue, as well as the expression of PD-1 and ki67. The results showed that the central zone had fewer atretic cord-like lymphatic vessels but the peripheral zone had more lymphatic vessels, and the MLD was significantly decreased in the central zone compared to the peripheral zone. The expression of PD-1 and ki67 also differed between the zones. The differences in microlymphangiogenesis, microangiogenesis, and PD-1/ki67 expression were not statistically significant among different histological types, but were significantly decreased in early-stage gastric cancer compared to advanced-stage cancer. These findings suggest that MLD, MVD, PD-1, and ki67 are important indicators for predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer.