Vascular endothelial growth factor-C expression and its relationship to pelvic lymph node status in invasive cervical cancer.
Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) has been implicated in lymphangiogenesis, the process of new lymphatics formation. The present study investigated VEGF-C mRNA expression in invasive cervical cancer tissue. Additionally, the association of VEGF-C mRNA with clinicopathological features was examined. VEGF-C mRNA expression was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using beta-action as an internal control. 75 patients presenting with invasive cervical cancer were included in the trial. VEGF-C mRNA expression was markedly higher in tumours in which pelvic lymph node metastasis was diagnosed by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (P = 0.002). 53 patients displaying stage Ib-IIb cervical cancer underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. VEGF-C expression was significantly higher in tumours exhibiting deep stromal invasion, pelvic lymph node metastasis and lymph-vascular space involvement (P = 0.016, P = 0.006 and P = 0.036, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed VEGF-C mRNA expression to be the sole independent factor influencing pelvic lymph node metastasis. Subjects demonstrating VEGF-C mRNA expression displayed significantly poorer prognoses than those lacking VEGF-C mRNA expression (P = 0.049). These findings provide evidence supporting the involvement of VEGF-C expression in the promotion of lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer. Furthermore, examination of VEGF-C expression in biopsy specimens may be beneficial in the prediction of pelvic lymph node metastasis.
Hashimoto
I
I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan.
Kodama
J
J
Seki
N
N
Hongo
A
A
Yoshinouchi
M
M
Okuda
H
H
Kudo
T
T
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010388:Pelvis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C