[Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) C and VEGF receptor 3 in non-small cell lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis with the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and VEGFR-3 in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
Samples of 76 NSCLC cases with the neighboring noncancerous tissue were studied using anti- VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and CD34 antibodies. Assessment of lymphatic vessel density and microvessel density (MVD) were performed.


RESULTS
VEGF-C expression in NSCLC was associating with the differentiation of tumor cells (P = 0.009). Expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.008 and P = 0.013 respectively) and lymphatic invasion (P = 0.027 and P = 0.020 respectively). A significant positive correlation was found between VEGF-C in cancer cells and VEGFR-3 in lymphatic endothelial cells (P = 0.009). The number of lymphatic vessels (P = 0.006) and microvascular (P = 0.046) in VEGF-C positive tumors was significantly larger than in VEGF-C-negative tumors. Lymphatic vessel density was closely related to lymph node metastasis (P = 0.010), lymphatic invasion (P = 0.019) and clinical stages (P = 0.015). MVD was closely related to blood metastasis (P < 0.001) and clinical stages (P < 0.001). Patients with positive VEGF-C expression had a worse prognosis than those with a negative VEGF-C expression (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-C/VEGF-D in NSCLCs, are related to lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis, as well as to the occurrence and the development of lung cancers. VEGF-C promotes intratumoral lymphangiogenesis via VEGFR-3, resulting facilitated invasion of cancer cells into the lymphatic vessels. VEGF-C expression can be a useful predictor of poor prognosis in NSCLC.
Dong
Xin
X
Department of Pathology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
Qiu
Xue-shan
XS
Wang
En-hua
EH
Li
Qing-chang
QC
Gu
Wei
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000378:metabolism*
D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3