title: [Lymphatic metastasis and VEGF-C expression in ovarian epithelial tumors].
abstract: The aim of the present study was to explore the role of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in the process of angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis in epithelial ovarian tumors. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining for VEGF-C were performed in 30 epithelial ovarian carcinomas, 9 borderline tumors and 26 benign cystadenomas. Endothelial cells were immunostained with anti-VEGFR-3 pAb and anti-CD31 mAb, and VEGFR-3 positive vessels and microvessel density (MVD) were assessed by image analysis. VEGF-C mRNA and protein expression in ovarian epithelial carcinomas were significantly higher than that in borderline tumors and benign cystadenomas (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). In ovarian epithelial carcinomas, VEGF-C protein expression, VEGFR-3 positive vessels and MVD were significantly higher in the cases of clinical stage III-IV and with lymphatic metastasis than those of clinical stage I-II and without lymphatic metastasis respectively (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), VEGFR-3 positive vessels and MVD was significantly higher in the VEGF-C protein positive tumors than negative tumors (p < 0.05), VEGFR-3 positive vessels was significantly correlated with MVD(p < 0.01). These data suggest that VEGF-C might play a role in lymphatic metastasis via lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in epithelial ovarian carcinomas, and VEGF-C could be used as a biologic marker of metastasis in ovarian epithelial carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Lymphology, Institute of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310031, China.
authors.forename: Ming Xing
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Ji Cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xin Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018282:Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D018291:Cystadenoma, Mucinous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D018293:Cystadenoma, Serous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3