Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor-D expression and VEGFR-3-positive vessel density with lymph node metastasis in gastric carcinoma.

Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) is a lymphangiogenic growth factor that activates VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3, a receptor expressed in the lymphatic endothelium. We investigated the clinical value of VEGF-D expression and VEGFR-3 positive vessel density in gastric carcinoma with regard to lymphangiogenesis.

Single-stage procedure with intraoperative colonoscopy and colonic irrigation in patients with obstructing left-sided colonic cancer.

Background And Aims: Recently there has been growing acceptance of the one-stage resection and primary anastomosis with intraoperative antegrade irrigation. This study evaluated the efficacy of a newly developed device for performing a single-stage procedure in patients with obstructing left-sided colon cancer.

Patients And Methods: A series of 151 consecutive patients with obstructing left-sided colonic cancer underwent on-table irrigation, resection, and primary anastomosis with the use of a newly developed device; 75 patients on-table colonoscopy.