[Relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and lymphangiogenesis with the development and prognosis of colon cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study the correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF- C) expression and lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) with clinicopathological features and prognosis in colon cancer.


METHODS
The expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 was detected by immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibodies against VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in 44 cases with primary colon cancer. LMVD was calculated.


RESULTS
VEGF-C positive rate was 43.2% (19/44). VEGF-C expression was associated with tumor (P=0.003), lymph node metastasis (P=0.002), Dukes stage (P=0.001). The mean LMVD was 10.14+/- 4.19. LMVD was associated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.002), Dukes stage (P=0.001). LMVD in VEGF-C(+) group was (11.34+/- 4.83) higher than (9.24+/- 3.48) in VEGF-C(-) group, but there was no statistically significance between the two groups (P=0.105). The survival rate of the patients with positive VEGF-C was lower than that with negative VEGF-C (P=0.0225). The median survival time of the patients with LMVD(+) group was shorter than that with LMVD(-) (P=0.0036). Distant metastasis (P=0.0004), lymphatic metastasis (P=0.021) and LMVD (P=0.0469) were independent prognostic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-C and LMVD appear to be new prognostic factors for colon cancer. Furthermore, LMVD may be a new independent prognostic factor.
Jiang
Jin-bo
JB
Department of General Surgery, Qilu HospitalìS handong University, Jinan 250012, China. rjzhdshcs@163.com
Li
Xue-mei
XM
Zhang
Wei-dong
WD
Zhu
Min
M
Shou
Nan-hai
NH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000378:metabolism
C467486:VEGFC protein, human; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3