Esophageal cancer is one of the common malignant tumors with high incidence and poor prognosis. Angiogenesis-related pathways play an important role in the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the main mediator of angiogenesis. In addition to promoting angiogenesis and maintaining the survival of neovascularization, VEGF can also directly act on esophageal cancer cells and promote the occurrence and development of tumors. This article reviews the biology of VEGF and its effect on blood vessels, the expression of VEGF in esophageal cancer cells and its influencing factors, the role of VEGF in esophageal cancer cells, the immunomodulatory activity of VEGF and the clinical study of VEGF inhibitors. The purpose of this study is to provide a basis for more rational use of VEGF inhibitors in the treatment of esophageal cancer.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of 99Tcm-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) dual-time imaging for parathyroid adenoma (PA) and parathyroid hyperplasia (PH).MethodsClinical data of 187 patients with pathologically confirmed hyperparathyroidism (HPT) who admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Medicine from July 2011 to December 2018 were retrospectively collected. Taking postoperative pathology as the standard, the diagnostic value of preoperative 99Tcm-MIBI dual-time imaging was analyzed.ResultsThe serum PTH level of PH patients was higher than that of PA patients (Z=–3.23, P<0.01). Te/N (T: focal area radioactive count, N: the normal tissue radioactivity count of the corresponding thyroid gland on the opposite side of the lesion) in PA and PH patients were lower than Td/N (Z=–3.61, P<0.01; Z=–3.47, P<0.01). The positive rates of 99Tcm-MIBI dual-time imaging in the diagnosis of PA and PH lesions were 67.9% (36/53) and 20.6% (86/418), respectively, and the positive rate of PA were higher (χ2=52.51, P<0.01). The positive rate of 99Tcm-MIBI dual-time imaging in the diagnosis of PA and PH single lesions was higher than that of multiple lesions (χ2=15.79, P<0.01; χ2=64.73, P<0.01). Conclusions99Tcm-MIBI dual-time imaging shows a higher positive rate for PA and a lower positive rate for PH. When HPT is clinically suspected, but 99Tcm-MIBI dual-time imaging is negative and serum PTH is positive, PH should be considered, and B ultrasound and other examinations should be performed to determine the lesion site.