Vascular endothelial growth factors, angiogenesis, and survival in human ileal enterochromaffin cell carcinoids.

Background And Aims: Well-differentiated neuro-endocrine ileal carcinoids are composed of serotonin-producing enterochromaffin (EC) cells. Life expectancy is determined by metastatic spread to the liver because medical treatment options are still very limited. Selective inhibition of angiogenesis or lymphangiogenesis might prevent tumour growth and metastatic spread.

Correlation of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase expression in ileal carcinoids, lymph nodes and liver metastasis with prognosis and survival.

Purpose: Ileal carcinoids are gut epithelial tumors originating from serotonin-containing enterochromaffin (EC) cells. Therapeutic options for effectively inhibiting the growth and spread of metastatic carcinoids are still limited. We aimed to identify the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) during tumor development and metastasis.