title: VEGF-D expression and lymph vessels play an important role for lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: Papillary thyroid carcinoma frequently metastasizes to regional lymph nodes, and lymph node metastasis increases the risk of local regional relapse. Recent evidence suggests that vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) promotes lymphangiogenesis, which in turn promotes lymphatic metastasis. Therefore, the role of VEGF-D messenger RNA transcript levels and VEGF-D immunoreactivity in lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma was investigated. In addition, the role of blood vascular vessel, lymph vessel, and Flt-4-positive vessel densities were studied in relation to their suspected association with lymph node metastasis, and with VEGF-D expression. VEGF-D messenger RNA transcript levels by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and VEGF-D immunoreactivity by immunohistochemistry in 49 papillary thyroid carcinomas were also studied. This was followed by quantitative immunohistochemical staining for CD34, podoplanin, and Flt-4. Lymph node metastasis was significantly correlated with VEGF-D messenger RNA transcript levels (P=0.027) and VEGF-D immunoreactivity (P=0.019). Increased lymph vessel density was also correlated with VEGF-D expression and lymph node metastasis. In conclusion, our findings indicate that VEGF-D expression and increased lymph vessel density may have an important role for lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hironao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasuoka
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Weihua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yuuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takamura
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
authors.forename: Misa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Kennichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kakudo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D