Poor prognosis associated with thrombocytosis and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in aged patients with gastric carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the thrombocytosis and vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）expression and their influence on clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis in aged patients with gastric carcinoma.Methods: Expression of VEGF was examined with immunohistochemical technique and platelet count and clinicopathlogical factors were reviewed in 92 cases gastric carcinoma patients.Results: Thrombocytosis was found in 26 patients（28.26%）and expression of VEGF was observed in 66.7% of gastric carcinoma,A significant correlation was found between thrombocyosis and VEGF.The expression of VEGF and thrombocytosis were related to the tumour size,depth,lymph node metastasis,vessel invasion and TNM stage（P＜0.01）,The prognosis of patients with thrombocytosis and expression of VEGF was poor. Conclusion: Thrombocytosis and overexpression of VEGF in gastric carcinoma enhance the possibility of invasion and metastasis and implicate a poor prognosis.