Previous studies revealed that protein kinase B (Akt) played a key role in tumor progress and prognosis and it has a close correlation with tumor lymphnode metastasis. But

the role of Akt played in the lymphangiogenesis of stomach cancer is still unknown. In the current study, we analysed the relationship of the protein expression of Akt/mTOR signaling pathway with lymphangiogenic factor VEGF-C/-D and also with lymph vessel density (LVD) in situ and in vitro and eventually to clarify whether a Akt/mTOR/ VEGF-C/-D signaling pathway exist in the gastric cancer. Methods: 1. In situ gastric cancer tissue JQ1 concentration experiments: 55 fresh gastric cancer tissues with matched normal gastric mucosas from patients with disparate pathological stages were collected and fresh-frozen in liquid nitrogen after surgical resections performed at the first affiliated hospital of Nanchang University. Of these, 42 were male and 13 were female. None of the patients had received chemo-, radio- or immuno-therapy before resection. Part of each specimen were routinely processed, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, and embedded selleck in paraffin for histopathological analysis (hematoxylin and eosin

stain) and for immunohistochemical staining. The expression status of p-Akt, p-mTOR, D2-40, VEGF-C and – D was detected by immunohistochemistry. 2. In vitro experiments: SGC7901 stomach cancer cells were divided into LY294002 intervention group and Rapamycin intervention group. MTT method was used to determine the effects of these two drugs on SGC7901 stomach cancer cells surviving. Western blot was used to detected the expression level of Akt, p-Akt, mTOR, p-mTOR, VEGF-C and -D after the above two drugs intervention. Results:  1. Immunohistochemical expression and relationship of p-Akt, p-mTOR, VEGF-C, VEGF-D in gastric cancer tissue. The positive expression rates of p-Akt, p-mTOR, VEGF-C, VEGF-D in gastric caner were 74.5%, 85.45%, 72.73% and 58.18%, respectively. The expression level of p-Akt was correlated with p-mTOR, VEGF-C and -D expression

levels, respectively (P < 0.05 or 0.01). At the meanwhile, the expression level of p-mTORwas also correlated with VEGF-C and – D (P < 0.05 or 0.01). 2.  Immunohistochemical expression of p-Akt, p-mTOR, VEGF-C, VEGF-D in gastric cancer tissue and their Docetaxel cell line relationships with LVD. The LVD was deteceted by immunostain of D2-40. The results revealed that the mean LVD in gastric cancer was 94.18±72.965, ranged from 0-263.The mean LVD was 23.31±21.569 in normal gastric tissue, ranged from 0-95, which has a significant difference when compared with that of cancer tissue (P < 0.001). A closely relationship was found between LVD and p-Akt, p-mTOR, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, respetively(P < 0.05 or 0.01). We also found that the expression level of p-mTOR, VEGF-C and VEGF-D were different among the p-Akt’s negative group, positive group,and strongly positive group (P < 0.05).