Lymphagenesis correlates with expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C in colorectal cancer.
Lymphagenesis in gastrointestinal tumors is not well described. To clarify its presence and regulation, we assessed the microlymphatic count (MLC) in colorectal cancer patients. Lymphatic vessels were evaluated by enzyme-histochemistry for 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NA). Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C is reportedly associated with lymphagenesis, the expression of VEGF-C protein was immunohistochemically assessed by the catalyzed signal amplification (CSA) method. MLC of peritumoral lesions was significantly higher than that of non-cancer and intratumoral lesions (p<0.01); it increased where VEGF-C was highly expressed (p<0.01) and increased with the depth of invasion in peritumoral lesions. These results indicate significant findings at peritumoral lesion: that lymphagenesis may be elicited by tumor spread; that VEGF-C expression is associated with lymphagenesis and is a potent factor stimulating lymphagenesis.
Ohno
Masakazu
M
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kobe University, 7-5-2 Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan. ohno@med.kobe-u.ac.jp
Nakamura
Takeshi
T
Kunimoto
Yukihiro
Y
Nishimura
Koji
K
Chung-Kang
Cheng
C
Kuroda
Yoshikazu
Y
D015720:5'-Nucleotidase / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*
D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D015720:5'-Nucleotidase