Lymphatic vessel density in pulmonary adenocarcinoma immunohistochemically evaluated with anti-podoplanin or anti-D2-40 antibody is correlated with lymphatic invasion or lymph node metastases.
In lung cancers, lymph node metastasis of cancer cells is one of the most important prognostic factors, and lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) is very important in the stage preceding lymph node metastases. Recently, it has been reported that lymphatic vessel density (LVD) is associated with lymph node metastasis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between LVD and LVI based on the immunohistochemical expression of podoplanin or D2-40, which are new specific markers for lymphatic endothelium. Using 76 cases of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the relationship between LVD and LVI, lymph node metastases, vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), VEGF-D or hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) expression was investigated. LVD was significantly associated with LVI, lymph node metastases and VEGF-D expression. LVI was also associated with lymph node metastases, histological subtype, VEGF-C or VEGF-D expression. High LVD, induced by VEGF-C or VEGF-D expression of cancer cells, is a good indicator of lymphatic metastases and LVI in pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
Adachi
Yoshin
Y
Division of Molecular Pathology, Department of Microbiology and Pathology, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan. adcysn@grape.med.tottori-u.ac.jp
Nakamura
Hiroshige
H
Kitamura
Yukisato
Y
Taniguchi
Yuji
Y
Araki
Kunio
K
Shomori
Kohei
K
Horie
Yasushi
Y
Kurozawa
Youichi
Y
Ito
Hisao
H
Hayashi
Kazuhiko
K
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D004729:Endothelium, Lymphatic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000378:metabolism; D000098853:Podoplanin
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; C117468:PDPN protein, human; D000098853:Podoplanin; C500987:monoclonal antibody D2-40