Clinicopathological significance of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and cyclooxygenase-2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is a specific growth factor of lymphatics, which is known to play some role in tumor growth and metastasis to lymph nodes and distant organs in various malignancies. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression of VEGF-C in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) to elucidate its role in tumor progression and lymph node metastasis. Another aim of the study was to investigate the relation between VEGF-C and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in ESCC.


METHODS
The expression of VEGF-C and COX-2 in ESCC was evaluated in 13 endoscopic mucosal resection specimens and in 21 surgical specimens by immunohistochemical staining. Clinical data were obtained from medical records.


RESULTS
The degree of VEGF-C expression increased as the depth of primary tumor progressed (r = 0.521, P = 0.002), the stage progressed (r = 0.572, P < 0.001), and the degree of COX-2 expression increased (r = 0.387, P = 0.024). The VEGF-C positive rate was different between early cancers in which regional lymph node metastasis was thought to be absent and advanced cancers in which regional lymph node metastases were confirmed after surgery (20.0% vs 100.0%; P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The VEGF-C expression in ESCC is related to COX-2 expression, and VEGF-C is also associated with the depth of primary tumor, the stage, and probably lymph node metastasis. Thus the investigation of VEGF-C expression in ESCC may assist in management planning.
Byeon
Jeong-Sik
JS
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Jung
Hwoon-Yong
HY
Lee
Yun Jung
YJ
Lee
Don
D
Lee
Gin Hyug
GH
Myung
Seung-Jae
SJ
Yang
Suk-Kyun
SK
Hong
Weon-Seon
WS
Kim
Jin-Ho
JH
Min
Young Il
YI
Kim
Jung Sun
JS
D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008833:Microcirculation; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases