Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and angiogenesis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-c (VEGF-C) mRNA and microvessel density (MVD) in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its relationship with clinical significance.


METHODS
Specimens obtained from 43 patients undergoing surgical resection for ESCC were used in this study. The expression of VEGF-C mRNA was examined by in situ hybridization. Tumor MVD was determined immunohistochemically with anti-CD31 antibody and estimated by image analysis. Ten sections of adjacent normal mucosa were also examined.


RESULTS
VEGF-C mRNA expression was detected in cytoplasm of carcinoma cells. Of the 43 ESCC patients studied, 18 cases (41.9%) were positive for VEGF-C mRNA. No VEGF-C mRNA expression was observed in normal esophageal mucosa. VEGF-C mRNA expression correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and depth of invasion (P < 0.05). Furthermore, histological grade (differentiation) tended to correlate with VEGF-C mRNA expression, but was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In tumor lesions, the MVD was significantly greater than that in normal esophageal mucosa. MVD correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and depth of invasion (P < 0.05), but not with histological grade (differentiation) (P > 0.05). Lesions with VEGF-C mRNA expression had a significantly higher MVD than that of those without VEGF-C mRNA expression (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-C plays a role in lymphatic metastasis via lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in ESCC. VEGF-C is one of the important predictors of the biological behavior in ESCC.
Ding
Ming-Xing
MX
School of Medicine, Jinhua College of Profession and Technology, Jinhua 321007, Zhejiang Province, China. mxding@hotmail.com
Lin
Xing-Qiu
XQ
Fu
Xiao-Yan
XY
Zhang
Ning
N
Li
Ji-Cheng
JC
D000368:Aged; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C