Clinical implication of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C in metastatic lymph nodes of uterine cervical cancers.
Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF)-C levels were significantly (P<0.05) increased in 24 out of 40 metastatic lymph node lesions of uterine cervical cancers. The prognosis of the 24 patients with increased VEGF-C level in metastatic lymph node lesions was poor and the 24-month survival rate was 38%, while the rate of the 16 patients with no change in VEGF-C level in metastatic lymph node lesions was 81%. There was a significant (P<0.01) difference in the 24-month survival rates between the two groups. This is novel, direct evidence that VEGF-C might contribute to the aggressive lymphangitic metastasis in uterine cervical cancers, and that the increase in VEGF-C level from primary tumour to metastatic lymph node might be a prognostic indicator.
Fujimoto
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu City 501-1193, Japan. jf@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
Toyoki
H
H
Sato
E
E
Sakaguchi
H
H
Tamaya
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000096:biosynthesis*
C467486:VEGFC protein, human; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C