[Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C in laryngeal squamous carcinoma and its role in lymphatic metastasis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) in laryngeal squamous carcinoma (LSC) and its relationship to lymph node metastasis.


METHODS
Paraffin-embedded specimens of primary laryngeal carcinomas from 60 patients subjected to operation were studied. VEGF-C expression was investigated using immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
Positive immunohistochemical staining for VEGF-C protein was observed in some laryngeal squamous carcinoma cells (45/60), the VEGF-C antigen was identified in the cytoplasm of cancer cells. Furthermore, the expression of VEGF-C in laryngeal squamous carcinoma cells was significantly higher in lymph-node-positive groups than in node-negative groups, and the expression was significantly higher in poorly differentiated LSC tissues than in moderately and well differentiated LSC tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
The above findings indicate a close correlation between VEGF-C expression and lymph node metastasis in laryngeal squamous carcinoma.
Department of Anatomy, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhong-liang
ZL
Wang
Yao
Y
Chen
Bin
B
Zhou
Chuan-yu
CY
Liang
Lin
L
Zhang
Rui-xiang
RX
Li
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C467486:VEGFC protein, human; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C