Quantitative analysis of lymphangiogenic markers in human gastroenteric tumor.
BACKGROUND
Lymphatic spread of gastroenteric tumor cells to regional lymph nodes is one of the early events in metastatic cancers and is often associated with distant metastatic spread and poor prognosis. Expression levels of newly described lymphatic endothelial markers, LYVE-1, VEGF-C, VEGF-D and the VEGF receptors VEGFR-3 were assessed in our study.


METHODS
Paired (tumor and corresponding normal tissue) samples were obtained. The expression level of each factor was determined using RT-PCR and quantified by using a real-time quantitative PCR (RT-QPCR) technique, with respective cloned cDNA plasmids as internal standards.


RESULTS
The expression of VEGF-C and lymphatic endothelial marker VEGFR-3 was significantly greater in patients with lymph node metastasis than in those without metastasis, but no different expression level of VEGF-D and LYVE-1 was detected in both groups of patients. Lymphatic vessel density (LVD), which was assessed by immunohistochemistry for LYVE-1, was correlated with lymphangiogenesis factors and lymph node metastasis. Expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 was significantly associated with higher peritumoral LVD than normal group, and LVD was found greater in the node-positive group than in the node-negative group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that quantitative analysis of lymphangiogenic marker VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in gastroenteric specimens may be useful in predicting metastasis of gastroenteric cancer to regional lymph nodes, but the role of LYVE-1 in predicting metastasis of gastroenteric cancer requires further analysis.
Yuanming
Lu
L
Clinical Research Center, No. 6 Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. luym650920@hotmail.com
Feng
Gao
G
Lei
Tao
T
Ying
Wang
W
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006023:Glycoproteins; C119248:LYVE1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3